LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund

Simon Hughes: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions she has had with the trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund on its exercise of shareholder voting rights during annual general meetings of those companies in which it invests.

Barbara Keeley: The Leader has not had any recent discussions with the Trustees on this subject. The investment of the assets of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund is a matter for the Fund's Trustees. The scheme regulations require the Trustees to have in place a Statement of Investment Principles and to consult with the Leader about it.
	The current Statement of Investment Principles states that the Trustees have instructed their investment managers
	"to exercise the rights attached to the Fund's investments in order to ensure, so far as is consistent with the Trustees' duty to act in the best financial interests of the beneficiaries, that the companies in which the Fund is invested adopt high standards"
	in relation to a
	"responsible approach to social, ethical and environmental issues".

NORTHERN IRELAND

Criminal Proceedings

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long on average it took the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service to bring a criminal case to court following the submission of papers by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the last three years.

Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from his Department's buildings in each year since 2005.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) contributes data annually to the NI Public Sector Energy Campaign (PSEC) regarding energy consumption.
	The most up to date figures on carbon dioxide emissions are contained within the 2007-08 PSEC report and are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  CO 2  total 
			   Tonnes 
			 2007-08 1,546 
			 2006-07 1,873 
			 2005-06 1,616 
			 2004-05 1,751 
		
	
	The Department has a Green ICT strategy in place, derived from the Cabinet Office "Greening Government ICT" strategy, to assist in reducing energy consumption and emissions.
	The Department participates in Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF) to offset emissions relating to air travel by Ministers and staff on official business.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many designs for its  (a) internal website and  (b) intranet his Department has commissioned since 2005; and what the cost was of each such design.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) maintains an internal intranet. Since 2005 the homepage has been redesigned at a cost of £7,040 and the content management system upgraded at a cost of £1,760. Two further updates were carried out by departmental ICT staff at no additional cost.

Prisoners: Ex-servicemen

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Northern Ireland prison population formerly served in the UK armed forces.

Paul Goggins: While all prisoners are asked their occupation on committal, there is no requirement for prisoners to disclose this information. Of those currently in prison, 0.36 per cent. (five persons) have stated their occupation as being in the armed forces or protective services.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals paid off arrears to the Child Support Agency by credit card in each of the last three years.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals paid off their arrears to the Child Support Agency by credit card in each of the last three years.
	Data on child maintenance arrears payments made only by credit card is not available as it is not possible to separate regular and arrears payments and it is not possible to break down payments made by credit or debit card.
	I am sorry on this occasion I can not be more helpful.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average housing benefit paid to  (a) local authority tenants,  (b) housing association tenants and  (c) private sector tenants was in each London borough in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average rent level was in each of the three sectors in that period.

Helen Goodman: holding answer 11 March 2010
	 The most recent available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Average weekly housing benefit paid to local authority tenants, registered social landlord tenants and private sector tenants in London boroughs: November 2009 
			  £ 
			  Local authority  Local authority tenants  Registered social landlord tenants  Private tenants  All tenancy types 
			 Camden 93.08 115.23 211.99 118.67 
			 City of London 86.40 102.98 174.18 97.24 
			 Hackney 91.68 108.11 194.93 120.33 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 90.72 124.58 196.77 124.77 
			 Haringey 121.10 119.23 157.60 132.78 
			 Islington 91.14 111.00 194.00 109.26 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 123.75 117.47 274.64 154.47 
			 Lambeth 107.44 99.94 148.65 112.94 
			 Lewisham 86.22 90.81 162.65 109.08 
			 Newham 132.36 121.84 167.97 142.92 
			 Southwark 82.95 104.36 147.75 95.94 
			 Tower Hamlets 121.78 100.57 193.32 119.57 
			 Wandsworth 103.62 109.48 215.40 135.71 
			 Westminster 97.73 127.03 310.74 182.54 
			 Barking and Dagenham 86.52 102.39 158.61 107.69 
			 Barnet 85.61 138.18 184.16 145.27 
			 Bexley 266.29 89.38 148.43 110.33 
			 Brent 108.77 145.21 199.75 159.12 
			 Bromley - 97.96 143.12 110.48 
			 Croydon 88.38 103.44 154.47 121.48 
			 Ealing 121.71 120.37 178.32 141.57 
			 Enfield 122.99 110.83 179.10 147.84 
			 Greenwich 76.44 96.58 146.17 94.15 
			 Harrow 81.11 143.85 180.14 147.75 
			 Havering 84.54 90.94 149.34 104.98 
			 Hillingdon 115.65 100.24 164.66 129.48 
			 Hounslow 92.77 102.00 173.07 119.28 
			 Kingston upon Thames 113.46 103.38 175.40 134.13 
			 Merton 80.99 101.67 156.66 115.23 
			 Redbridge 159.50 106.05 163.35 152.43 
			 Richmond upon Thames 241.47 91.19 175.53 119.15 
			 Sutton 76.83 95.32 151.45 107.21 
			 Waltham Forest 105.49 99.94 149.23 119.36 
			  Notes: 1. Data are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Average amounts of housing benefit are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. 3. Housing association tenants are shown as registered social landlord tenants. 4. Tenure type does not include recipients with unknown tenure type. 5. "-" denotes nil cases. 6. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 7. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and October 2009 is the most recent available.  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE).

TREASURY

Climate Change Levy

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monetary value of receipts from the Climate Change Levy has been in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Final outturns of climate change levy receipts are published at Budget in table C.6 in chapter C "The public Finances" for each fiscal year.

Public Bodies

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the recommendation in the Public Accounts Committee report on the Equality and Human Rights Commission published on 4 March 2010 that his Department should draw up best practice guidelines for the creation of public sector bodies.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government's response will be set out alongside responses to the other Committee of Public Accounts' conclusions and recommendations from its Fifteenth Report in a Treasury Minute in due course.

Tax Allowances: Energy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to amend the categories of equipment eligible for support under the Enhanced Capital Allowance Energy Scheme to include low energy loss distribution transformers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Enhanced Capital Allowances scheme for energy saving technologies is dynamic and kept under regular review. Updates and changes to the EGA schemes are normally announced at Budget.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many submissions were received to the technical consultation on the draft legislation and guidance on the ending of Furnished Holiday Lettings relief which closed on 26 February 2010; and how many of those submissions expressed views in favour of the Government's proposals.

Stephen Timms: None of the responses to the technical consultation on the proposed legislation to repeal the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) rules identified any technical difficulties with the draft legislation which was published at the 2009 pre-Budget report. Therefore there are no plans to publish a full report on the findings from this informal consultation.
	The Treasury receives representations on a range of policy issues. As was the case with the previous Administration, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such representations.
	The Government acknowledge that this change has not been welcomed by the tourism industry. However, for legal reasons, a change is necessary.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Consultants

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether consultants have been contracted to carry out public participation activity on behalf of his Department in the last three years; and, if so, how much was spent in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government Olympic Executive in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport runs an East London digital network. This is an on-line forum for invited members of the public to give their opinions and ideas and is one of the key ways in which Government are meeting their promise to engage with local people about what they want from the Olympics and ensure that Government policy reflects their views.
	The cost of the project, including the contracting of consultants stands at £111,759.20 exclusive of VAT.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Gordon

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many enquiries from households in Gordon constituency have been received by the Digital UK Help Scheme; and how many of those households were eligible to receive the digital conversion service free of charge.

Ben Bradshaw: The Switchover Help Scheme receives eligibility data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is only able to report statistically at an ITV region level. The provision of help scheme eligibility data at both country and local level is a matter for the DWP. The help scheme estimates around 170,000 people in the STV North TV Region will be eligible to receive help. It is estimated that 37 per cent. of the 170,000 eligible people in the STV North TV Region are entitled to receive the help for free. The numbers of help scheme eligible people and people entitled to receive the help for free in this region are likely to change between now and when the last STV North transmitter switches in October 2010.

Irish Language Broadcast Fund: Expenditure

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has provided to the Irish Language Broadcast Fund in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department acted as the conduit through which the UK Government paid £3 million for the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund in 2009-10. Funding was provided through the UK Film Council.

Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Stroud constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.
	The impact of bodies and policies of the Department on the Stroud constituency since 2000 include:
	£156,862 given from Arts Council England to organisations based in Stroud in 2008-09 through the Grants for the Arts programme.
	£121,000 of English Heritage grant offers to the Stroud constituency in 2008-09.
	Digital Switchover is due to take place in Stroud in April 2010. By the time switchover is complete at the end of 2012, 98.5 per cent. of households nationwide will be able to receive digital TV-the same number that can currently receive analogue.
	Over £18,046,315 of national lottery grants made to applications from the Stroud constituency since 2000.
	The Stroud constituency has also benefitted from other policies and spending whose impact cannot be broken down by constituency. This includes:
	£4 billion of Exchequer funding spent on culture.
	More than £5.5 billion invested in sport by the Government and the national lottery since 1997.
	Almost 750,000 free swims taken in London in the first eight months of the Free Swimming programme.
	A 68 per cent. increase in national museum visits from 1998-99 to 2008-09-10 per cent. of which were by adults from lower socio-economic groups.
	£416.6 million in grants allocated by English Heritage since 1997.
	48 per cent. of buildings on the original 1999 Buildings at Risk Register having their future secured.
	90 per cent. of all pupils taking part in at least two hours of high quality PE or sport per week in 2008 from an estimated 25 per cent. in 2003-04-exceeding our target.

Trade Unions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff his Department and its agencies are seconded to trade unions; what facilities are made available to them; how many days other staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Royal Parks Agency do not have any employees seconded to trade unions.
	Both DCMS and the Royal Parks provide facility time for local trade union officials.
	The annual cost of trade union facility time for DCMS is up to £25,952.
	The annual cost of trade union activity for the Royal Parks is up to £29,333.
	There are no figures available for the number of days other staff spend on trade union activity. To obtain such information would incur a disproportionate cost.

Ulster Scots: Expenditure

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has provided for the promotion and development of Ulster Scots language and culture in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: None-but under the terms of the BBC's charter and agreement, the BBC Trust must have regard to the importance of ensuring appropriate provision in minority languages. Funding to enable the BBC to provide minority languages is included in the BBC's funding settlement, which is set by my Department, although my Department does not specify the amounts that the BBC must spend in this area.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Security

John Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) effect on time taken for passengers to pass through security of the use of different types of scanners used to detect liquids.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has been working with the European Civil Aviation Conference and other international partners to test the effectiveness of liquid screening technologies and final results will be available by the end of the year.
	The Department has also undertaken several studies on the time taken for passengers to pass through liquid detection systems, the results of which have been used to define options for the deployment of liquid detection machines and also to guide manufacturers on how the performance of the machines might be improved.

Departmental Advertising

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department has spent on advertisements on television and commercial radio on campaigns run by the Department since 2005.

Chris Mole: The majority of television and radio advertising media expenditure by the Department for Transport is in support of the THINK! Road safety and the Act on CO2 campaigns. Among the Department's executive agencies, the most prominent use of advertising has been by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, in support of Electronic Vehicle Licensing, Sale of Marks and Vehicle Excise Enforcement (Continuous Registration).
	The information sought is not held in the format requested by all parts of the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information available is included in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Television advertising 
			 DFT(C) 6,889 5,171 8,002 8,171 
			 DSA 0 0 0 0 
			 DVLA n/a n/a n/a 4,800 
			 GCDA 0 0 0 0 
			 HA 0 0 0 0 
			 MCA 25 4 15 13 
			 VCA 0 0 0 0 
			 VOSA 0 0 0 0 
			  Radio advertising 
			 DFT(C) 2,011 2,578 2,511 3,089 
			 DSA 0 0 0 41 
			 DVLA n/a n/a n/a 1,400 
			 GCDA 0 0 0 0 
			 HA n/a n/a 40 66 
			 MCA 0 0 0 0 
			 VCA 0 0 0 0 
			 VOSA 0 0 0 0

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and therefore no records exist for the Department prior to that date.
	The following tables show the electricity, gas and other fuels used by the Department for Transport and its Agencies since 2004-05.
	
		
			  Total electricity 
			  kWh 
			  Business u nit  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Central Department 8,073,203 9,187,270 8,039,848 7,522,387 7,472,014 
			 Executive Agencies 34,810,758 36,567,277 39,721,844 37,988,465 42,271,338 
			 DfT total 42,883,961 45,754,547 47,761,692 45,510,852 49,743,352 
		
	
	The following table gives the percentage of electricity consumed by the Department that came from renewable resources for each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Electricity from renewable resources 
			  Percentage 
			  Business unit  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 DfT 68 74 66 62.5 53 
		
	
	The reducing percentage of electricity from renewable resources depicted above is as a result of a change in the main supply contract from Buying Solutions which now has a reduced renewable allowance in order to ensure renewable energy is available in the private sector.
	
		
			  Total gas 
			  kWh 
			  Business unit  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Central Department 1,183,339 1,743,451 893,005 970,130 1,144,174 
			 Executive Agencies 29,967,416 46,974,572 42,517,851 48,308,845 52,890,398 
			 DfT total 31,150,755 48,718,023 43,410,856 49,278,975 54,034,572 
		
	
	
		
			  Total other fuels 
			  kWh 
			  Business unit  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Central Department 421,858 450,079 448,200 390,760 211,385 
			 Executive Agencies 1,639,613 219,000 2,746,182 2,819,862 2,496,956 
			 DfT total 2,061,471 669,079 3,194,382 3,210,622 2,708,341 
		
	
	Part of the progressive increases shown in the above tables is accounted for by improvements in the standard of data collection.
	The following table provides the total annual cost of the energy used in the above tables.
	
		
			  Total fuels 
			  £ 
			  Business unit  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Central Department 1,261,721.52 1,931,567.00 1,124,339.31 870,380.58 1,031,824.05 
			 Executive Agencies 2,371,574.30 4,559,976.64 4,237,074.20 5,195,331.01 7,238,984.25 
			 DfT total 3,633,295.82 6,491,543.64 5,361,413.51 6,065,711.59 8,270,808.30 
		
	
	In addition to the above listed energy use the Highways Agency is responsible for the provision of roadside technology and lighting which incurred £23.9 million in energy costs in 2008-09. It is not possible to provide consumption data for this facet of departmental activity.

Departmental Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff from BAA  (a) are seconded to his Department and  (b) were so seconded in each of the last five years; what the roles were of such personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department's records indicate that no staff from BAA have been seconded to the Department for Transport in the last five years.

Departmental Theft

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years.

Chris Mole: The figure provided here is for all items recorded as stolen in the past two years and is for the entire Department for Transport including its agencies and shared service centre. The figure provided does not include thefts where records are not available centrally, or such thefts that were not reported. While some of this information may exist in records held locally within the central Department and the agencies, it could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
	Central records show that since 10 February 2008 76 items have been reported stolen. Of these 54 were reported stolen from within departmental premises.
	The Department has in place access control measures in accordance with cabinet office guidance, issues staff awareness guidance on its Intranet and provides lockable pedestals and personal lockers. Reminders on security awareness are also disseminated to employees via security liaison officers within the Department teams.

Official Cars: Senior Civil Servants

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the annual cost to the public purse is of the provision by the Government Car and Despatch Agency of official cars with drivers to senior civil servants.

Paul Clark: The annual cost of providing official cars to senior civil servants by the Government Car and Despatch Agency is £371,379.00.

Roads: Litter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to bring A-roads under the responsibility of the Highways Agency for the purposes of removal of roadside litter.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency retains responsibility for litter collection on the motorways and also on some all purpose trunk roads. A list of these roads has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Highways Agency will continue to collaborate with local authorities to ensure the effective removal of roadside litter.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much of the £6 billion allocated has been spent on completion of schemes funded under the first tranche of the National Roads Programme.

Chris Mole: The following table gives the amount spent on completing work on the first tranche of schemes out of the up to £6 billion allocated to the National Roads Programme in the January 2009 Roads Announcement.
	
		
			  Amount allocated from £6 billion national roads programme 
			   £ million 
			 M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill 31.4 
			 M1 J6a-10 Widening 82.5 
			 A14 Haughley New Street to Stowmarket 14.0 
			 M62 J6 Improvements 14.7 
			 M25 J1b-3 widening 15.1 
			 A5117/A550Deeside Park Junction improvement 23.3 
			 A1 Bramham to Wetherby 31.8 
			 Total 212.7

Thameslink Railway Line

Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of the increase in capacity provided by the Thameslink Programme will be attributable to the  (a) Key Output 0,  (b) Key Output 1 and  (c) Key Output 2 phase.

Chris Mole: Key Output 0 has already delivered an increase of 2,500 seats in each peak period. The Key Output 1 service, from December 2011 will increase the capacity into central London initially by approximately a further 1,000 seats in each peak period.
	As the new Key Output 2 trains are progressively brought on to the rail network, capacity will increase in to the central London section of the Thameslink route by up to approximately 30,000 additional seats in each peak period.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund money by Nottinghamshire county council in villages directly affected by quarrying.

Huw Irranca-Davies: It is for local authorities to decide how to spend money provided via ALSF as a non ring fenced area based grant. These monies are spent according to local priorities.
	Nottinghamshire county council uses all money allocated to it on aggregates projects and reports through the DEFRA ALSF database, which can be viewed at:
	http://alsf.defra.gov.uk/
	The database currently records 73 projects funded by Nottinghamshire county council with a total value of nearly £2 million, of which £495,000 is from ALSF grants.
	DEFRA is currently undertaking an assessment of the effectiveness of the ALSF, including funds provided to local authorities, in advance of the next spending review.

Compost: Mushrooms

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with Bassetlaw council on the prosecution of mushroom composters in breach of regulations on odour emissions.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Our officials continue to receive regular updates from Bassetlaw council about the regulation of the mushroom composting plant in their district, most recently from council officers on 3 March. DEFRA officials spoke to the newly-employed consultant to the council on 9 March. The decision on whether or not to prosecute is a matter for the council, having regard to, among other matters, the statutory Regulators' Compliance Code.

Noah's Ark Farm Zoo

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure the compliance of Noah's Ark Farm Zoo, North Somerset, with section 7.13 of the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice as a condition of its zoo licence.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 places responsibility for the inspection and licensing of zoos with local authorities, in this case North Somerset council. The Act provides local authorities with all the powers they require to ensure that zoos operate to high standards consistent with the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) disciplinary and  (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department and its predecessor in each of the last five years; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department's staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff.

Patrick McFadden: We are unable to provide the information requested on procedures initiated or average length of time that procedures take as responsibility for commencing capability and minor disciplinary procedures rests with line management across the Department. No records are collated centrally regarding how many procedures are initiated in the Department.
	Staff may be dismissed for poor performance, poor attendance, gross misconduct or repeated misconduct. Information for the Department, including any predecessor Departments and data for UK Trade and Investment, in relation to dismissals on these grounds is set out in the following table. Totals of five or less are suppressed on the grounds of confidentiality.
	
		
			   Number of staff dismissed (all reasons) 
			 2009-10(1) (2)- 
			 2008 8 
			 2007 14 
			 2006 12 
			 2005 15 
			 (1) To date.  (2 )Unable to supply this information under section 40 (personal data) of the Data Protection Act.

Departmental Paper

Martin Horwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) suppliers and  (b) brands of (i) paper and (ii) paper products his Department uses; and what his Department's policy is on the procurement of those materials.

Patrick McFadden: The Department uses the Pan Government Office Supplies Framework set up by the MOD. Under the framework Office Depot are the paper suppliers. Our reprographics department also use The Paper Company (formally Dixon and Roe) for their supplies.
	Our hand towels, toilet rolls and kitchen paper are purchased through our cleaning company-GBM who in turn purchase from either Bunzi Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies or Futures Supplies and Support Services Ltd.
	For the paper we use some unbranded products and some branded products as follows:
	Reprographics Department uses Evolve Office Paper and Nine Lives Paper.
	Office Depot provides Evolve, Unbranded; Filemaster; Paradis; Kendall; Kestrel; Communiques; Conqueror; Copyspeed; Classic and Rellex.
	Our cleaning consumables are Kimberley Clark.

Insolvency: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses employing fewer than 50 people went into administration in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in (i) each of the last 12 months and (ii) each of the last five years.

Ian Lucas: Official statistics for corporate insolvencies, including administrations, are not currently available at a sub-national level within England and Wales.
	Additionally, the number of employees of a company in administration is not recorded on the Companies House source data.

Met Office

John Thurso: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to page 27 of the document Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government, what underlying data for weather forecasts will be released for free download and reuse by April 2010.

Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply.
	The underlying data that has been made available is detailed in the following table. This data can be downloaded for free from the Met Office website at the following link:
	http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/pws/invent/weathermap/
	As outlined in 'Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government', the Met Office has also released a free iPhone application to access weather data and a widget that enables other websites to deploy Met Office supplied weather information.
	
		
			  Category  Data details 
			 Weather warnings Type, validity period, risk and severity for all current valid warnings issued by the Met Office 
			 Weather For all UK weather stations for which an observation or a forecast is available: 
			  Site name 
			  Latitude 
			  Longitude 
			  Wind direction 
			  Wind speed 
			  Wind gust 
			  Weather type (as numerical code, decode provided on website) 
			  Visibility 
			  Temperature 
			  Pressure-observed values only 
			  Pressure tendency (e.g. "Rising")-observed values only 
			 Mountain and leisure areas For Mountain areas: 
			  For the current day (day zero): weather hazards including severity, fell top conditions, weather forecast including precipitation probabilities 
			  For the next day (day one): weather forecast 
			  For days two and three: weather outlook For Leisure areas: a textual overview of the current day's weather 
			 Pressure Forecast Pressure for the entire UK area at various time frames 
			 Ultra Violet Forecast UV values for the current day through to day four for every forecast location in the UK

Post Offices: Bank Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many sub-postmasters have had back-payments collected from them by Post Office Ltd. in relation to ATMs installed in their branches; and from how many Post Office Ltd. continues seek to collect such back-payments;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd. on the collection of back-payments from sub-postmasters for ATMs in their branches; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Following agreement with the National Federation of Sub-postmasters, Post Office Ltd. notified sub-postmasters in September 2009 that they would not be asked to pay any backdated fees from the time their ATM was installed up to the end of August 2009.

Royal Mail

Peter Luff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chief executive for Royal Mail Group; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The chief executive post is not a Government appointment. The Royal Mail Board has begun the search for Adam Crozier's replacement but there is no set timetable for the recruitment process. An announcement will be made when the process is concluded.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many  (a) disciplinary and  (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in the Government Equalities Office in each of the last five years; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of staff of the Government Equalities Office were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff.

Michael Jabez Foster: Since its creation in 2007, the Government Equalities Office has had one disciplinary case, in 2009. The case involved one member of staff and did not result in dismissal. It was initiated and completed within the 2009 calendar year.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information technology projects initiated by  (a) her Department and  (b) its agency were cancelled prior to completion in the last 12 months; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse.

Angela Smith: My Department has not cancelled any information technology projects in the last 12 months.

Employment

Jim Cousins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have moved from being  (a) unemployed and  (b) economically inactive to employed in each quarter in each (i) region and (ii) country of the UK since 2007; and what proportion of the labour force this represented in each (A) quarter and (B) such area.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people have moved from being (a) unemployed and (b) economically inactive to employed in each quarter in each (i) region and (ii) country of the UK since 2007; and what proportion of the labour force this represented in each (A) quarter and (B) such area. (321064)
	Estimates for the working age population of the UK are provided in the attached table. They are derived from datasets extracted from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which enable the estimation of the labour market status of people surveyed in two successive quarters. These datasets are made publicly available as the "LFS Longitudinal Datasets". Estimates for the regions and countries within the UK, and for all people aged 16 and over, are not available due to sample size restrictions and the limitations of the estimation methodology.
	As with any estimates extracted from sample surveys, the figures provided are subject to a margin of uncertainty. More precise estimates of the quality of the estimates provided in this answer are not available.
	
		
			  Estimated quarterly flows( 1)  from unemployment and from economic inactivity into employment, working age people( 2) , United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			Flows (Thousand)  Flows as a percentage of total economically active 
			Unemployment to employment  Economic inactivity to employment  Unemployment to employment  Economic inactivity to employment 
			 2007 Q1 376 406 1.3 1.4 
			  Q2 448 478 1.5 1.6 
			  Q3 454 655 1.5 2.2 
			  Q4 567 528 1.9 1.8 
			   
			 2008 Q1 395 453 1.3 1.5 
			  Q2 421 444 1.4 1.5 
			  Q3 409 600 1.4 2.0 
			  Q4 549 503 1.8 1.7 
			   
			 2009 Q1 370 359 1.2 1.2 
			  Q2 450 330 1.5 1.1 
			  Q3 555 518 1.8 1.7 
			  Q4 582 405 1.9 1.4 
			 (1) From the previous calendar quarter to the quarter shown. (2) Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey Longitudinal Datasets

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Birmingham City Council: Finance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with Birmingham city council on its financial situation.

Barbara Follett: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with Birmingham city council regarding its financial situation.

Community Development: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2010,  Official Report, column 247W, on community development: finance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) data and  (b) plans used to determine the allocation of funding from the Connecting Communities Fund to each local authority.

Barbara Follett: The neighbourhoods which benefited from Connecting Communities funding were identified after a range of hard and soft data around cohesion, deprivation and crime, perceived unfairness in the allocation of resources had been carefully examined. Feedback was also given by people working locally. The plans for each area were decided after discussions between local authorities and their Government office about the support required. The data and the plans are specific to each local authority and may include sensitive information. The hon. Member may wish to contact Peterborough city council about the selection of areas and the activities taking place in his constituency.

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government has not relocated any posts from either Essex or the Castle Point constituency.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by his Department to assist special advisers.

Barbara Follett: Two full-time and one 0.4 full-time equivalent civil servants support the special advisers in the offices of the Secretary of State and the Minister for Housing. All three civil servants provide support of a non-political nature, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. They also provide support to Ministers' private offices.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: For information up to 2007-08, I refer the hon. Member to the answer he was given on 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 765W.
	Since 2007-08, the information is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 4,407.35 
			 2009-10 1,327.90 
		
	
	Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the Department's staff handbook, and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Empty Dwelling Management Orders: Squatting

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been produced by his Department on whether an Empty Dwelling Management Order may be issued in respect of a property which is occupied by squatters.

Ian Austin: The Department issued a Guidance Note on Empty Dwelling Management Orders in July 2006 which can be downloaded from the Communities website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/guidancenote
	An interim Empty Dwelling Management Order can be issued only by the Residential Property Tribunal Service if the dwelling has been wholly unoccupied (i.e. no part is occupied whether lawfully or unlawfully) for at least six months.
	The issue of squatters is managed through separate provisions-other powers exist to evict squatters. The landlord must obtain an eviction order from a county court. The EDMO provisions can then be followed if required.

Fire Services: Finance

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on the fire and rescue service per 100,000 population in each local authority area in the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: The latest available outturn net current expenditure on the fire and rescue services per 100,000 of the population in each local authority in England is for 2008-09 and is tabled as follows:
	
		
			   £000 per 100,000 population 
			 Greater London Authority 5,388 
			   
			 Greater Manchester Fire and CD Authority 3,887 
			 Merseyside Fire and CD Authority 5,013 
			 South Yorkshire Fire and CD Authority 4,168 
			 Tyne and Wear Fire and CD Authority 4,648 
			 West Midlands Fire and CD Authority 4,393 
			 West Yorkshire Fire and CD Authority 3,184 
			   
			 Avon Combined Fire Authority 3,862 
			 Bedfordshire Combined Fire Authority 3,651 
			 Berkshire Combined Fire Authority 3,758 
			 Buckinghamshire Combined Fire Authority 3,505 
			 Cambridgeshire Combined Fire Authority 2,714 
			 Cheshire Combined Fire Authority 3,927 
			 Cleveland Combined Fire Authority 5,006 
			 Derbyshire Combined Fire Authority 3,129 
			 Devon and Somerset Combined Fire Authority 4,048 
			 Dorset Combined Fire Authority 3,375 
			 Durham Combined Fire Authority 4,417 
			 East Sussex Combined Fire Authority 4,714 
			 Essex Combined Fire Authority 4,032 
			 Hampshire Combined Fire Authority 3,449 
			 Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority 3,691 
			 Humberside Combined Fire Authority 5,085 
			 Kent Combined Fire Authority 4,071 
			 Lancashire Combined Fire Authority 3,966 
			 Leicestershire Combined Fire Authority 3,245 
			 North Yorkshire Combined Fire Authority 3,598 
			 Nottinghamshire Combined Fire Authority 3,853 
			 Shropshire Combined Fire Authority 4,145 
			 Staffordshire Combined Fire Authority 2,813 
			 Wiltshire Combined Fire Authority 3,618 
			   
			  County councils  
			 Cornwall 3,842 
			 Cumbria 3,865 
			 Gloucestershire 3,184 
			 Hertfordshire 3,600 
			 Lincolnshire 3,835 
			 Norfolk 3,499 
			 Northamptonshire 3,428 
			 Northumberland 5,033 
			 Oxfordshire 3,547 
			 Somerset(1) 39 
			 Suffolk 3,279 
			 Surrey 3,778 
			 Warwickshire 3,955 
			 West Sussex 4,047 
			 Isles of Scilly 15,547 
			   
			  Unitary authority  
			 Isle of Wight UA 4,227 
			 (1) Fire and rescue responsibility was transferred from Somerset county council to Devon and Somerset Combined Fire Authority on 1 April 2007. However, Somerset county council still has some residual costs.   Source:  Communities and Local Government provisional Revenue Outturn (RO) returns. 
		
	
	Population figures used in the calculation are the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Mid-Year Population estimates for 2008.
	The current expenditure defined here is on a Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 17 basis and is the cost of running local authority services within the financial year. This includes the costs of staffing, heating, lighting and cleaning, together with expenditure on goods and services consumed within the year. This expenditure is offset by income from sales, fees and charges and other (non-grant) income, to give net current expenditure.

Greater Manchester

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Manchester, Gorton constituency, the effects on that constituency of the policies of his Department and its predecessors since 1997.

Barbara Follett: My Department does not routinely collect information at constituency level but, as the constituency of Manchester, Gorton falls within the local authority of Manchester we have, where relevant, included information from them in this answer.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources.
	This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/
	Communities and Local Government statistical publications can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/statistics/
	This includes time series data across the Department's remit at various geographic levels.
	Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our Research Database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	This includes evaluations of key policies.
	Over the last year, Communities and Local Government has:
	Played a critical role responding to the recession ensuring people, business and communities receive the practical help they need, including: helping people avoid repossession; Real Help Now; supporting the construction industry, critical regeneration projects, jobs through Future Jobs Fund; and businesses with the business rates deferral scheme.
	Set in place a platform for greater local devolution for more effective decision making through local area agreements (LAAs)-including slashing central performance standards from over 1,200 to fewer than 200.
	Continued building on this through Total Place pilots, leading innovation across public services-cutting out waste, overlap and duplication, meaning more and belter quality services at less cost to the taxpayer.
	Established the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) set out in the Planning Act 2008-which will make the major Infrastructure Planning decisions for) the country, delivering a faster, fairer and more transparent planning regime.
	Announced the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge to deliver an additional 20,000 units of affordable housing, creating 45,000 jobs in the construction industry over this year and next, including 1,300 new apprenticeship schemes.
	Last year there were 330 additional affordable homes provided by Manchester local authority. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1406085.xls
	During the period since 1997, the Department's achievements include:
	Working with local housing authorities to reduce the number of people accepted as owed a main homelessness duty by 71 per cent. since the peak in 2003-the lowest level since the late seventies-through greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness.
	In 2008-09, there were 539 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in Manchester local authority compared to 2,688 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in 2002-03. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141476.xls
	Launching the Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosperous Communities" which set out a new stage of public sector reform, significantly strengthening leadership and devolving power to local government as well as providing a major expansion of opportunities for local people to influence local decision-making and improve their lives.
	Helping reduce accidental fire-related deaths-the lowest level since 1959.
	In 2008-09, there were 12 accidental fire related deaths in Greater Manchester, compared to 28 accidental fire relate deaths in 2001-02. At the local level, fire deaths may fluctuate within a general declining national trend. See link for further information (Table 4b):
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1403049.xls
	Reducing by 1.2 million the number of non decent social homes
	As at 1 April 2009, there were 7,201 non-decent dwellings in Manchester local authority, compared to 40,586 non decent dwellings at 1 April 2001. See links for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1393612.xls
	(2008-09 data)
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141950.xls
	(2001-02 data)
	Investing through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund £1.87 billion for England's 88 most deprived local authorities-leading to real positive change.

Hackney

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not routinely collect information at constituency level as far back as to 1997. The constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency falls within the London borough of Hackney and therefore where relevant information is available, this has been included in the answer.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/
	Communities and Local Government statistical publications can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/statistics/
	This includes time series data across the Department's remit at various geographic levels.
	Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our Research Database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	This includes evaluations of key policies.
	Over the last year, Communities and Local Government has:
	Played a critical role responding to the recession ensuring people, business and communities receive the practical help they need, including: helping people avoid repossession; Real Help Now; supporting the construction industry, critical regeneration projects, jobs through Future Jobs Fund; and businesses with the business rates deferral scheme.
	Set in place a platform for greater local devolution for more effective decision-making through Local Area Agreements (LAAs)-including slashing central performance standards from over 1,200 to fewer than 200.
	Continued building on this through Total Place pilots, leading innovation across public services-cutting out waste, overlap and duplication, meaning more and better quality services at less cost to the taxpayer.
	Established the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) set out in the Planning Act 2008-which will make the major infrastructure planning decisions for the country, delivering a faster, fairer and more transparent planning regime.
	Announced the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge to deliver an additional 20,000 units of affordable housing, creating 45,000 jobs in the construction industry over this year and next, including 1,300 new apprenticeship schemes.
	Last year there were 990 additional affordable homes provided by the London borough of Hackney, compared to 709 additional affordable homes provided in 1996-97. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1406085.xls
	During the period since 1997, the Department's achievements include:
	Working with local housing authorities to reduce the number of people accepted as owed a main homelessness duty by 71 per cent. since the peak in 2003-the lowest level since the late seventies-through greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness.
	In 2008-09, there were 615 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in the London borough of Hackney compared to 1,136 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in 2002-03. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141476.xls
	Launching the Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosperous Communities" which set out a new stage of public sector reform, significantly strengthening leadership and devolving power to local government as well as providing a major expansion of opportunities for local people to influence local decision-making and improve their lives.
	Helping reduce accidental fire-related deaths-the lowest level since 1959.
	In 2008-09, there were 30 accidental fire related deaths in Greater London, compared to 56 accidental fire related deaths in 2001-02. See link for further information (Table 4b):
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1403049.xls
	Reducing by 1.2 million the number of non-decent social homes.
	As at 1 April 2009, there were 7,326 non-decent dwellings in the London borough of Hackney, compared to 26,649 non-decent dwellings as at 1 April 2001. See links for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1393612.xls
	(2008009 data)
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/142466.xls
	(2001-02 data)
	Investing through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund £1.87 billion for England's 88 most deprived local authorities-leading to real positive change.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many port businesses have paid the assessments for business rates for 2009-10; how many such businesses have paid a first contribution into his Department's scheme to allow the payment of such retrospective charges over eight years; and what estimate he has made of the number of businesses eligible for assistance under this scheme.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not hold information on the extent to which individual businesses have met their business rates liabilities for 2009-10.
	Local authorities reported that, as at 8 October 2009, ratepayers occupying 221 properties within ports had fully discharged their backdated liability and ratepayers occupying a further 200 business properties within ports had been granted a schedule of payments.
	In a Business Rates Information letter dated 10 February 2009 the Government said that, based on historical trends, they estimate that up to 1,500 properties could benefit from a schedule of payments in 2009-10.
	The Government have listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some of those within ports. It has legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in one instalment thus helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent.

Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Stroud constituency, the effects on that constituency of the policies and actions of his Department and its predecessor since 2000.

Barbara Follett: My Department does not routinely collect information at constituency level but, as the constituency of Stroud falls within the local authority of Stroud we have, where relevant, included information from them in this answer.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/
	Communities and Local Government statistical publications can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/statistics/
	This includes time series data across the Department's remit at various geographic levels.
	Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our Research Database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	This includes evaluations of key policies.
	Over the last year, Communities and Local Government has:
	Played a critical role responding to the recession ensuring people, business and communities receive the practical help they need, including: helping people avoid repossession; Real Help Now; supporting the construction industry, critical regeneration projects, jobs through Future Jobs Fund; and businesses with the business rates deferral scheme.
	Set in place a platform for greater local devolution for more effective decision making through local area agreements (LAAs)-including slashing central performance standards from over 1,200 to fewer than 200.
	Continued building on this through Total Place pilots, leading innovation across public services-cutting out waste, overlap and duplication, meaning more and better quality services at less cost to the taxpayer.
	Established the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) set out in the Planning Act 2008-which will make the major Infrastructure Planning decisions for the country, delivering a faster, fairer and more transparent planning regime.
	Announced the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge to deliver an additional 20,000 units of affordable housing, creating 45,000 jobs in the construction industry over this year and next, including 1,300 new apprenticeship schemes.
	Last year there were 70 additional affordable homes provided by Stroud local authority compared to 50 additional affordable homes provided in 2000-01. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1406085.xls
	During the period since 1997, the Department's achievements include:
	Working with local housing authorities to reduce the number of people accepted as owed a main homelessness duty by 71 per cent. since the peak in 2003-the lowest level since the late seventies-through greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness.
	In 2008-09, there were 22 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in Stroud local authority compared to 89 households accepted as being homeless and in priority need in 2002-03. See link for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141476.xls
	Launching the Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosperous Communities" which set out a new stage of public sector reform, significantly strengthening leadership and devolving power to local government as well as providing a major expansion of opportunities for local people to influence local decision-making and improve their lives.
	Helping reduce accidental fire-related deaths-the lowest level since 1959.
	In 2007-08, there were five accidental fire related deaths in Gloucestershire, compared to two accidental fire relate deaths in 2001-02. At the local level, fire deaths may fluctuate within a general declining national trend. See link for further information (Table 4b):
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1403049.xls
	Reducing by 1.2 million the number of non decent social homes
	As at 1 April 2009, there were 625 non-decent dwellings in Stroud local authority, compared to 1,895 non decent dwellings at 1 April 2001. See links for further information:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1393612.xls
	(2008-09 data)
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/142016.xls
	(2001-02 data)
	Investing through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund £1.87 billion for England's 88 most deprived local authorities-leading to real positive change.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the merits of making the provision of assistance to the Congolese army conditional on progress towards the release from its ranks of those under the age of 18 years and the removal of individuals suspected of having committed human rights abuses.

Ivan Lewis: The UN Peacekeeping mission, MONUC, has a conditionality clause in its mandate that support will be withdrawn from Congolese army units (FARDC) which commit human rights abuses.
	We fully support this approach and will continue to maintain pressure on the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to take appropriate action against perpetrators of human rights abuses and uphold the rule of law. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa visited DRC last month and raised the issue with President Kabila, urging progress on security sector reform and implementation of his "zero tolerance" policy on human rights abuses. The Minister also met with FARDC officers and UN Peacekeeping troop commanders in South Kivu, in eastern Congo, and was encouraged by their considered approach to the newly mandated operation, Amani Leo, where they have created a method for vetting FARDC commanders before collaborating with them, shifted emphasis to predominantly civilian protection and developed a robust message on zero tolerance and the need to maintain professional standards. We will continue to monitor the mission through our staff on the ground and UN, non-governmental organisations and independent reporting.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of providing assistance for accountability mechanisms in Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of reported human rights abuses, with particular reference to the participation of children in armed conflict.

Ivan Lewis: Accountability is essential for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) armed forces to be able to provide civilian protection. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa raised the issue of impunity for human rights abusers with Prime Minister Muzito and President Kabila when in the country last month. We have lent support to developing the justice sector in DRC. We are providing about £80 million over five years to increase accountability of the security sector through strengthened oversight mechanisms, technical assistance and training.
	Through the EU advisory and assistance mission for security reform in the DRC we are funding a biometric census project which provides accurate personnel figures for the military of the DRC regiments and allows child soldiers to be successfully identified and removed.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the merits of extending the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1698 (2006) to include all political and military leaders responsible for the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ivan Lewis: UN Security Council Resolution 1698 states that political and military leaders recruiting or using children in armed conflict in violation of applicable international law; and individuals committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction and forced displacement be subject to sanctions. We fully support this measure as stated in the declaration.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Political Prisoners

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the arrest in January 2010 of Lutu Mabangu.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 March 2010
	My noble Friend Baroness Kinnock raised freedom of expression and the need for media freedom and freedom of association in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the President, Prime Minister and other Ministers when she visited in late February. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials will raise the specific case of Lutu Mabangu at the meeting of the EU human rights working group in Kinshasa next month. We are currently not making any specific representations to the Government of DRC about this case.

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: No such expenditure has been incurred.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by his Department to assist special advisers.

Ivan Lewis: Since June 2009 there have been two full-time Civil Servants: one Band A member of staff (AO equivalent) and one Band B member (EO equivalent) employed to assist Special Advisers. These Civil Servants have provided administrative support of a non-political nature in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek to ensure safe passage of the Free Gaza flotilla through international waters.

Ivan Lewis: Vessels in international waters enjoy the right of freedom of navigation. However, the Government strongly advise against any travel to Gaza at this time. Humanitarian aid workers and other essential specialist staff needing to travel to Gaza should co-ordinate their entry to Gaza with the major international humanitarian organisations already on the ground. The Government also regularly lobby the Israeli Government to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
	If, despite this advice, 'Free Gaza' decide to travel to Gaza, they do so at their own risk. They should review their security arrangements and seek professional security advice on whether they are adequate. They should register with our consular office in Gaza. The level of consular assistance the FCO can provide is extremely limited.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made in its policy of supporting the provision of compensation by the Libyan government for victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Libya/Northern Ireland Reconciliation Unit continues to support the campaign by victims and families of victims of Irish Republican Army terrorism to obtain a settlement from the Libyan Government. This dedicated unit continues to provide facilitation, logistical support and advice to the campaign.

Trade Unions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in North Africa on the effects of the Western Sahara dispute on the effectiveness of the Maghreb Arab Union.

Ivan Lewis: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have not discussed the effect of the Western Sahara dispute on the Maghreb Arab Union with all governments in North Africa. This issue has, however, been discussed with the Moroccan authorities. The UK recognises the negative impact of the long-running dispute over the territory of Western Sahara on a range of regional co-operation initiatives, including the Arab Maghreb Union.
	The UK regards the status of the disputed non self-governing territory of Western Sahara as undetermined, pending UN efforts to find a solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. To this end, we continue to support the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, in their efforts to resolve the dispute.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projects his Department is operating to encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol; and how much is being spent on each.

Alan Campbell: The Partnership Support Programme, run by the Alcohol Strategy Unit identified 50 CDRP areas where they expected to see action to tackle binge drinking and related antisocial behaviour. These areas are being encouraged to engage with their communities about the damaging effects of irresponsible drinking and the action they are taking to address problem areas. A total of £1.5 million has been distributed between the 50 CDRPs for this purpose.
	12 selected CDRPs on the partnership support programme have received specialist strategic consultancy to develop sustainable communications plans to engage local communities and tackle people's perceptions of the issues. The consultancy included research dissemination and feedback, the facilitation of communications workshops and the development of communications strategies. This is supported by ongoing liaison with regional Know Your Limits stakeholders; providing them with promotional materials to run their campaigns about irresponsible drinking and keeping them informed of Home Office activity and news.
	We provide support to CDRPs and other stakeholders who have questions and requests about the Know Your Limits campaign. This includes information about materials available to them, using logos and amplifying campaigns locally, advice on the type of communication programme that they could run in their area, as well as general communication guidance and best practice.
	The Know Your Limits advertising campaign targets 18 to 24-year-olds to prompt them to reconsider their behaviour around binge drinking. Throughout the summer adverts appeared on websites, radio, TV and in magazines. The cost of media for the financial year 2009-10, excluding production and fees was £1,661,612.
	Additionally, we have funded a number of adult and young people's alcohol arrest referral projects. These seek to offer a brief intervention to individuals who have been arrested for an offence, and are under the influence of alcohol. A total of £1.6 million has been spent on these arrest referral projects during the financial year 2009-10.

Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) prosecuted,  (b) convicted and  (c) received the maximum available fine for the offence of not obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: The number of defendants proceeding against at magistrates courts and convicted and fined at all courts in England and Wales, and issued with a penalty notice for disorder for not obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place in each year from 2006 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table. No defendants have received the maximum fine of £500 between 2006 and 2008.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be published in the autumn 2010.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty, issued with a penalty notice of disorder and issued with a court fine at all courts for not obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place, England and Wales 2006-08( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Offence description  Number  2006  2007  2008 
			 Failure to obey an instruction to stop alcohol consumption in designated public place (Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, sec. 12) Proceeded against 101 113 (4)153 
			  Found guilty 73 98 (4)123 
			  Penalty notice of disorder 1,061 1,544 1,761 
			  Maximum fines issued - - - 
			  Number of defendants fined 59 76 92 
			 (1 )The court proceedings figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The offence of alcohol consumption in designated public place (section 12 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) came into force on 1 September 2001. (4) Excludes prosecutions and convictions data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions on the purchase, production, sale or misuse of alcohol introduced in legislation since 1 May 2007 have not yet been brought into force.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 8 March 2010
	Legislative provisions that fall under the responsibility of the Home Office and have not yet been brought into force are as follows:
	Policing and Crime Act 2009
	The secondary legislation in relation to the mandatory licensing conditions for alcohol retailers. The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order is currently before Parliament for approval.
	Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
	Sections 6,7 and 8 in relation to Drinking Banning Orders on conviction will come into force on 1 April 2010.

Alcoholic Drinks: Fixed Penalties

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued for the offence of consuming alcohol in a designated public place in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines for such notices in each of the last three years.;
	(2)  how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued for the offence of being drunk in a highway in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines for such notices in each of the three years;
	(3)  how many penalty notices for disorder were issued for the offence of purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person under 18 in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines for such notices in each of those years;
	(4)  how many penalty notices for disorder were issued for the offence of buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18 in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines for such notices in each of those years;
	(5)  how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued for the offence of selling alcohol to a person who is drunk in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines in each of those years.;
	(6)  how many penalty notices for disorder were issued for the offence of being drunk and disorderly in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines in each of those years;
	(7)  how many penalty notices for disorder were issued for the offence of selling alcohol to a person under 18 years old in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in fines in each of those years.

Alan Campbell: The number of penalty notice for disorder issued for selected offences 2006 to 2008 (latest) are given in the tables. Alcohol related offences have been italicised.
	Offences requested as follows:
	DB07-consuming alcohol in a designated public place
	DB05-being drunk in a highway
	DA19 and DA20- purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person under 18
	DB14-buying or attempting to buy alcohol
	DA16-selling alcohol to a person who is drunk
	DA06-drunk and disorderly
	DA18-selling alcohol to a person under 18 years old
	Penalty notices for disorder data for 2009 are planned to be published in autumn 2010.
	
		
			  Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to all persons aged 16 and over, by Offence and Outcome, England and Wales 2006( 1) 
			   Of those paid 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  %  Paid in full within 21 days  %  Paid in full outside 21 days  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,933  1,911 49 1,355 34 556 14 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  909  523 58 388 43 135 15 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  106  43 41 35 33 8 8 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  82,235  43,120 52 30,757 37 12,363 15 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  682  380 56 267 39 113 17 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  43,556  24,673 57 18,123 42 6,550 15 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  20,620  11,351 55 8,342 40 3,009 15 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  38,772  16,169 42 12,370 32 3,799 10 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  53  34 64 27 51 7 13 
			 DA14 Possession of category  4 firework  28  12 43 9 32 3 11 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  76  51 67 34 45 17 22 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  47  35 74 29 62 6 13 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  60  53 88 41 68 12 20 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person under 18  3,195  2,756 86 2,354 74 402 13 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person under 18  407  268 66 213 52 55 14 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  60  39 65 35 58 4 7 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  297  176 59 132 44 44 15 
			  
			   £50 Tickets issued
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,042  551 53 320 31 231 22 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  15  6 40 5 33 1 7 
			 DB05 Drunk in a highway  2,712  1,433 53 1,064 39 369 14 
			 DB07 Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,061  252 24 165 16 87 8 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,169  593 51 427 37 166 14 
			 DB12 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  75  55 73 46 61 9 12 
			 DB13 Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  14  10 71 10 71 - - 
			 DB14 Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  73  52 71 43 59 9 12 
			  
			   All offences  201,197  104,546  52  76,591  38  27,955  14 
		
	
	
		
			  Other outcomes 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  Fine registered  %  Court hearing requested  %  PND cancelled  %  Potential prosecution  %  Outcome unknown  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued 
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,933  1,911 1,787 45 44 1 108 3 81 2 2 0 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  909  523 319 35 14 2 26 3 24 3 3 0 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  106  43 52 49 - - 6 6 5 5 - - 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  82,235  43,120 35,154 43 780 1 1,914 2 1,126 1 141 0 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  682  380 264 39 5 1 23 3 10 1 - - 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  43,556  24,673 16,919 39 269 1 886 2 725 2 84 0 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  20,620  11,351 8,492 41 134 1 324 2 287 1 32 0 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  38,772  16,169 21,157 55 203 1 732 2 392 1 119 0 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  53  34 16 30 1 2 1 2 - - 1 2 
			 DA14 Possession of category 4 firework  28  12 15 54 - - - - - - 1 4 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  76  51 21 28 - - 3 4 1 1 - - 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  47  35 9 19 1 2 2 4 - - - - 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  60  53 7 12 - - - - - - - - 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person  under 18  3,195  2,756 390 12 6 0 30 1 10 0 3 0 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person under 18  407  268 122 30 1 0 10 2 6 1 - - 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  60  39 20 33 - - - - 1 2 - - 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  297  176 99 33 3 1 14 5 3 1 2 1 
			   
			   £50 Tickets issued 
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,042  551 463 44 2 0 19 2 6 1 1 0 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  15  6 6 40 - - 2 13 - - 1 7 
			 DB05 Drunk in a highway  2,712  1,433 1,158 43 7 0 94 3 16 1 4 0 
			 DB07 Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,061  252 749 71 7 1 45 4 6 1 2 0 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,169  593 536 46 3 0 26 2 10 1 1 0 
			 DB12 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  75  55 17 23 - - 2 3 1 1 - - 
			 DB13 Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  14  10 4 29 - - - - - - - - 
			 DB14 Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  73  52 20 27 - - 1 1 - - - - 
			   
			   All offences  201,197  104,546  87,796  44  1,480  1  4,268  2  2,710  1  397  0 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to all persons aged 16 and over, by Offence and Outcome, England and Wales 2007( 1) 
			   Of those paid 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  %  Paid in full within 21 days  %  Paid in full outside 21 days  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,966  1,862 47 1,384 35 478 12 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  1,193  670 56 526 44 144 12 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  96  55 57 38 40 17 18 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  77,827  40,357 52 30,761 40 9,596 12 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  649  374 58 290 45 84 13 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  46,996  26,367 56 19,727 42 6,640 14 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  19,946  11,072 56 8,401 42 2,671 13 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  45,146  19,111 42 15,390 34 3,721 8 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  39  25 64 20 51 5 13 
			 DA14 Possession of category 4 firework  22  10 45 7 32 3 14 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  106  67 63 57 54 10 9 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  81  64 79 50 62 14 17 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  54  41 76 31 57 10 19 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person under 18  3,583  3,074 86 2,623 73 451 13 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person under 18  555  320 58 244 44 76 14 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  64  31 48 23 36 8 13 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  431  268 62 219 51 49 11 
			  
			   £50 Tickets issued
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,527  780 51 441 29 339 22 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  25  13 52 11 44 2 8 
			 DB05 Drunk in a highway  2,066  1,146 55 942 46 204 10 
			 DB07 Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,544  328 21 259 17 69 4 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,374  705 51 541 39 164 12 
			 DB12 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  85  67 79 55 65 12 14 
			 DB13 Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  11  9 82 8 73 1 9 
			 DB14 Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  158  109 69 85 54 24 15 
			  
			   All offences  207,544  106,925  52  82,133  40  24,792  12 
		
	
	
		
			  Other outcomes 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  Fine registered  %  Court hearing requested  %  PND cancelled  %  Potential prosecution  %  Outcome unknown  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued 
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,966  1,862 1,807 46 34 1 122 3 140 4 1 0 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  1,193  670 431 36 17 1 43 4 32 3 - - 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  96  55 37 39 - - 3 3 1 1 - - 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  77,827  40,357 33,021 42 626 1 2,210 3 1,577 2 36 0 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  649  374 223 34 9 1 30 5 13 2 - - 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  46,996  26,367 18,161 39 244 1 1,038 2 1,177 3 9 0 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  19,946  11,072 7,979 40 112 1 384 2 393 2 6 0 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  45,146  19,111 24,344 54 172 0 988 2 507 1 24 0 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  39  25 13 33 - - 1 3 - - - - 
			 DA14 Possession of category 4 firework  22  10 10 45 - - 2 9 - - - - 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  106  67 31 29 1 1 5 5 2 2 - - 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  81  64 9 11 3 4 2 2 3 4 - - 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  54  41 11 20 1 2 1 2 - - - - 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person under 18  3,583  3,074 405 11 13 0 69 2 22 1 - - 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person under 18  555  320 211 38 4 1 14 3 5 1 1 0 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  64  31 22 34 - - 10 16 1 2 - - 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  431  268 138 32 1 0 19 4 5 1 - - 
			   
			   £50 Tickets issued 
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,527  780 675 44 - - 45 3 26 2 1 0 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  25  13 10 40 - - 2 8 - - - - 
			 DB05 Drunk in a highway  2,066  1,146 788 38 8 0 94 5 30 1 - - 
			 DB07 Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,544  328 1,090 71 6 0 87 6 32 2 1 0 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,374  705 589 43 2 0 64 5 13 1 1 0 
			 DB12 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  85  67 16 19 - - 2 2 - - - - 
			 DB13 Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  11  9 1 9 - - 1 9 - - - - 
			 DB14 Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  158  109 35 22 - - 13 8 1 1 - - 
			   
			   All offences  207,544  106,925  90,057  43  1,253  1  5,249  3  3,980  2  80  0 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to all persons aged 16 and over, by Offence and Outcome, England and Wales 2008( 1) 
			   Of those paid 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  %  Paid in full within 21 days  %  Paid in full outside 21 days  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,443  1,659 48 1,302 38 357 10 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  888  532 60 422 48 110 12 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  77  50 65 35 45 15 19 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  57,773  29,646 51 23,172 40 6,474 11 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  531  296 56 240 45 56 11 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  44,411  24,775 56 18,371 41 6,404 14 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  13,427  7,624 57 5,880 44 1,744 13 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  45,616  20,903 46 17,280 38 3,623 8 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  23  21 91 17 74 4 17 
			 DA14 Possession of category 4 firework  23  12 52 10 43 2 9 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  67  42 63 38 57 4 6 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  66  51 77 47 71 4 6 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  83  70 84 60 72 10 12 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person under 18  2,824  2,473 88 2,121 75 352 12 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person under 18  524  291 56 232 44 59 11 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  50  34 68 24 48 10 20 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  286  162 57 134 47 28 10 
			  
			   £50 Tickets issued
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,468  797 54 313 21 484 33 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  27  16 59 7 26 9 33 
			  DB05  Drunk in a highway  1,438  773  54  657  46  116  8 
			  DB07  Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,761  296  17  254  14  42  2 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,202  660 55 543 45 117 10 
			  DB12  Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  36  23  64  19  53  4  11 
			  DB13  Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  6  4  67  4  67  -  - 
			  DB14  Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  114  79  69  62  54  17  15 
			  
			   England and Wales  176,164  91,289  52  71,244  40  20,045  11 
		
	
	
		
			  Other outcomes 
			   Offence description  Number issued  Total paid in full  Fine registered  %  Court hearing requested  %  PND cancelled  %  Potential prosecution  %  Outcome unknown  % 
			   £80 Tickets issued 
			 DA01 Wasting police time  3,443  1,659 1,519 44 35 1 115 3 113 3 2 0 
			 DA02 Misuse of public telecommunications system  888  532 285 32 11 1 40 5 20 2 - - 
			 DA03 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority  77  50 25 32 1 1 - - 1 1 - - 
			 DA04 Causing Harassment, alarm or distress(2)  57,773  29,646 24,623 43 419 1 1,688 3 1,387 2 10 0 
			 DA05 Throwing fireworks  531  296 204 38 3 1 17 3 11 2 - - 
			 DA06 Drunk and disorderly  44,411  24,775 17,368 39 299 1 873 2 1,072 2 24 0 
			 DA11 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2)  13,427  7,624 5,251 39 72 1 210 2 266 2 4 0 
			 DA12 Theft (retail under £200)(2)  45,616  20,903 23,090 51 189 0 881 2 540 1 13 0 
			 DA13 Breach of fireworks curfew  23  21 1 4 1 4 - - - - - - 
			 DA14 Possession of category 4 firework  23  12 11 48 - - - - - - - - 
			 DA15 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework  67  42 22 33 - - 2 3 1 1 - - 
			 DA16 Sale of alcohol to drunken person  66  51 9 14 3 5 1 2 2 3 - - 
			 DA17 Supply of alcohol to person under 18  83  70 12 14 - - - - 1 1 - - 
			 DA18 Sale of alcohol to person  under 18  2,824  2,473 309 11 9 0 15 1 17 1 1 0 
			 DA19 Purchase alcohol for person  under 18  524  291 210 40 4 1 10 2 9 2 - - 
			 DA20 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises  50  34 15 30 - - 1 2 - - - - 
			 DA21 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery  286  162 116 41 - - 8 3 - - - - 
			   
			   £50 Tickets issued 
			 DB03 Trespass on a railway  1,468  797 585 40 1 0 69 5 16 1 - - 
			 DB04 Throwing stones at a train/railway  27  16 10 37 - - 1 4 - - - - 
			  DB05  Drunk in a highway  1,438  773  586  41  4  0  55  4  20  1  -  - 
			  DB07  Consumption of alcohol in public place  1,761  296  1,365  78  2  0  72  4  26  1  -  - 
			 DB08 Depositing and leaving litter  1,202  660 496 41 8 1 25 2 12 1 1 0 
			  DB12  Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  36  23  11  31  -  -  2  6  -  -  -  - 
			  DB13  Allowing consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises  6  4  2  33  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
			  DB14  Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18  114  79  30  26  1  1  4  4  -  -  -  - 
			   
			   England and Wales  176,164  91,289  76,155  43  1,062  1  4,089  2  3,514  2  55  0 
			 "-" = Nil. (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) Offence is a Notifiable offence included within OBTJ figures. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. [Ref: IOS 120-10], [Ref: IOS 124-10], [Ref: IOS 125-10], [Ref: IOS 126-10], [Ref: IOS 127-10], [Ref: IOS 128-10] and [Ref: IOS 129-10]

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department takes steps to ensure that monkeys imported for scientific research from  (a) China and  (b) Vietnam have been bred in that country and not re-exported from a third country.

Meg Hillier: Appraisal of the breeding centres in China and Vietnam currently regarded as acceptable by the Home Office has not revealed any evidence that animals consigned to the United Kingdom have been bred other than at the Chinese or Vietnamese centre in question.
	Following each shipment of non-human primates to the United Kingdom, the Inspectorate has access to the full-lifetime records of the individual animals to be used under project licence authority including details of their origin. Second and subsequent Inspectorate visits to overseas sources allow supplementary checks to be made of the reliability of the records provided to the United Kingdom users.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies in  (a) China and  (b) Vietnam are designated as breeding and supply establishments to supply non-human primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office has no authority to designate primate breeders or suppliers outside Great Britain. However, the use of any non-human primate from an overseas source under the authority of a project licence issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires prior approval which is given only if the conditions at the supplying centre, and at the breeding centre where the animals originate, if different, are acceptable to the Home Office at the time of the supply. There are three centres in China currently considered acceptable to provide non-human primates to UK designated user establishments and one in Vietnam.

Antisocial Behaviour

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of antisocial behaviour police forces in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales have received in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The total number of incidents classified as antisocial behaviour as defined within the National Incident Category List (NICL) in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are set out in the table. Data are not available by constituency and were only collected in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
	These data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications.
	
		
			  Force area  2007-08  2008-09 
			 South Tyneside 19,030 16,233 
			 North East of England(1) 298,864 271,707 
			 England and Wales 3,868,002 (2)3,669,100 
			 (1) For policing purposes the Home Office define the North East region as consisting of three police forces: Cleveland, Durham, and Northumbria. (2) This figure has increased by 7,602 compared to the figure in PQ ref: 289587 owing to a correction to Wiltshire's figure.   Note:  The data represent calls for service as recorded by police forces under the ASB categories and may be subject to local variation in reporting and classifying.

Arrest Warrants: Operating Costs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse has been of enforcing European arrest warrants issued in each other EU member state in each year since 2003; and what the average cost to the public purse was of enforcing such a warrant in each of those years.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 8 March 2010
	The European arrest warrant has been in operation since 1 January 2004. The Home Office does not hold this data. It could not be accessed without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Translation Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies incurred on translators in each year since 1998.

Alan Johnson: The Department's expenditure on translation and interpretation services from 2003-04 to 2008-09, being the most recent period for which audited figures are available, is as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Home Office, including UKBA 13,499 14,903 10,419 9,683 9,636 8,301 
			 Identity and Passport Service 3 3 3 6 (1)260 1,177 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 0 0 0 13 0 0 
			 (1)The Identity and Passport Service introduced compulsory face-to-face interviews for first time applicants in 2007-08. The first compulsory interview making use of an interpreter took place on 11 May 2007. 
		
	
	The Home Office figures in the table, for the financial years 2004-05 to 2007-08, do not include those for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Office of Criminal Justice and Reform (OCJR), which transferred to Ministry of Justice on 1 April 2007: figures for NOMS and OCJR for 2003-04 could not be deducted from the Home Office total without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Data prior to 2003-04 can only be extracted at disproportionate cost.

Firearms: Arrests

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests for possession of a firearm and  (b) gun-related incidents were recorded in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The relevant Home Office data collection includes information on the number of arrests for possession of firearms resulting from searches under the Firearms Act 1968 Section 47 and other legislation. Data on the number of arrests under these powers from 1997-98 to 2007-08 (latest available) are provided in Table (A). The information provided only covers arrests under these powers and does not cover other arrests for firearms.
	Information on the number of arrests for possession of firearms not resulting from these searches is not available centrally.
	Data on offences in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used from 1997-98 to 2008-09 are given in Tables (B) and (C). Statistics for 2009-10 are scheduled to be published in January 2011.
	Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat against a person.
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Firearm offences before and after that date are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of arrests for possession of firearms following stops and searches under Section 47 of the firearms act 1968 and other legislation, England and Wales 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 1997-98 726 
			 1998-99 707 
			 1999-2000 756 
			 2000-01 815 
			 2001-02 899 
			 2002-03 1,041 
			 2003-04 924 
			 2004-05 1,438 
			 2005-06 1,417 
			 2006-07 1,410 
			 2007-08 1,496 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Firearm offences( 1)  (excluding air weapons), England and Wales, 1997 to 2001-02 
			   Number of offences 
			 1997-98 4,903 
			 1998-99(2) 5,209 
			 1999-2000 6,843 
			 2000-01 7,471 
			 2001-02(3) 10,024 
			 (1) Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat (2) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on  1 April 1998. (3) Figures may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before  1 April 2002. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Firearm offences( 1)  (excluding air weapons), England and Wales , 2002-03 to 2008-09 
			   Number of offences 
			 2002-03(2) 10,248 
			 2003-04 10,338 
			 2004-05(3) 11,069 
			 2005-06 11,088 
			 2006-07 9,645 
			 2007-08 9,865 
			 2008-09 8,208 
			 (1) Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat. (2) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (3) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on 1 April 2004 may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particular/ those committed by imitation weapons.

Intelligence Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the guidelines issued by his Department to officers of those intelligence services which fall within his responsibilities on interviewing prisoners abroad have been  (a) seen and  (b) agreed by him; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The draft consolidated guidance is being seen and agreed by the relevant Ministers, which includes myself, and, as the Prime Minister has made clear, will be published shortly.

Post Office

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has discussed with Post Office Ltd. the award of the contract set out in tender notice 2009/S 247-354963.

Meg Hillier: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, has not discussed with Post Office Ltd. the award of the contract set out in tender notice 2009/S 247-354963.

Post Office

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he made an assessment of awarding the contract set out in tender notice 2009/S 247-354963 to Post Office Ltd outside the competitive process.

Meg Hillier: The National Identity Scheme Management Board and its professional advisers concluded that a competition was required to find partners to help provide the services set out in tender notice 2009/S 247-354963. They advised the Secretary of State for the Home Department accordingly.

Prisoners: Health

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of  (a) youths,  (b) adult males and  (c) adult females in custody following sentencing who experienced (i) drug dependency health problems, (ii) alcohol dependency health problems and (iii) serious mental health problems in the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not collect information on the number and proportion of sentenced prisoners (including young offenders (18 to 20 years), adult males and adult females) who experienced drug dependency and alcohol dependency health problems.
	A source of information regarding prevalence of substance misuse among sentenced prisoners is "The problems and needs of newly sentenced prisoners: results from a national survey" published by the Ministry of Justice in October 2008. This reviewed 1,457 newly sentenced prisoners from 49 prisons.
	In 2008, 703 sentenced prisoners were transferred from prison because of a mental illness severe enough to warrant treatment in a mental in-patient facility commissioned by the national health service.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff were based in each overseas country on 1 December 2009.

Phil Woolas: 661 UK-based UK Border Agency staff are posted or are working overseas.
	Another 1,510 staff locally engaged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also work for the UK Border Agency are based abroad.
	The following tables give the breakdown by each country:
	
		
			  Table 1: Entirety of work force( 1) , United Kingdom-based UK Border Agency staff posted or working overseas 
			  Countries( 2)  Number 
			 France 125 
			 India 76 
			 Nigeria 68 
			 United Arab Emirates 43 
			 Belgium 36 
			 China 39 
			 South Africa 25 
			 Philippines 23 
			 Russian Federation 21 
			 Ghana 23 
			 Pakistan 17 
			 Bangladesh 12 
			 Jamaica 10 
			 Kenya 10 
			 Turkey 10 
			 Egypt 8 
			 Thailand 8 
			 Poland 6 
			 Total of employees in countries with five or fewer posted UK staff(3) 101 
			 Total 661 
			 (1 )Border Force staff as at 31 December 2009, International Group staff as at 22 January 2009.(  2) Countries with more than five posted UK staff.(  3) Total representation in countries with five or fewer posted UK staff. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff who are locally engaged and are thus based overseas, who work for the UK Border Agency 
			  Country  Locally engaged workers (Number) 
			 India 208 
			 Nigeria 133 
			 China 110 
			 United Arab Emirates 106 
			 Pakistan 88 
			 United States 66 
			 South Africa 51 
			 Bangladesh 43 
			 Philippines 36 
			 Russian Federation 34 
			 Australia 33 
			 Turkey 32 
			 Ghana 31 
			 Thailand 28 
			 Kenya 26 
			 France 18 
			 Germany 18 
			 Iran 17 
			 Malaysia 16 
			 Sri Lanka 14 
			 Italy 13 
			 Jamaica 13 
			 Jordan 13 
			 Saudi Arabia 13 
			 Ukraine 13 
			 Canada 12 
			 Egypt 12 
			 Ethiopia 12 
			 Spain 11 
			 Colombia 10 
			 Gambia, The 9 
			 Irish Republic 9 
			 Kuwait 9 
			 Cyprus 8 
			 Morocco 8 
			 Taiwan (China) 8 
			 Brazil 7 
			 Macedonia 7 
			 Yugoslavia 7 
			 Libya 6 
			 Netherlands 6 
			 Romania 6 
			 Vietnam 6 
			 Countries with five or less locally engaged workers 184 
			 Total 1,510

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Electricity

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  whether he plans to bring forward proposals to set minimum standards for energy loss from distribution transformers in respect of  (a) the installed base of transformers and  (b) new units procured by distribution network operators;
	(2)  whether he has made a recent estimate of the potential carbon savings arising from the adoption of the highest energy efficiency standards in distribution of transformers distribution network operators; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to encourage distribution network operators to procure the most energy efficient distribution transformers; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: DECC's policy is to ensure that grids, including at distribution level support the new generation mix we need to meet our targets.
	Ofgem did consider setting minimum standards for losses as part of their review of the losses incentive in DPCR5 but opted to retain the output based incentive (which was improved in DPCR5) in order to encourage distribution network operators (DNO's) to manage losses both through low loss technology but also through network operations or network users and to incentivise them to identify ways to tackle the issue of theft.
	The downside of setting minimum standards would be the need for Ofgem to specify equipment which could lead to the risk of equipment market distortion and could stifle DNO's innovation on technical loss reduction.

Insulation

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of homes which require  (a) additional loft insulation,  (b) cavity wall insulation,  (c) draught proofing and  (d) new heating controls for the purposes of increasing their energy efficiency.

Joan Ruddock: The English Housing Survey published by the Department for Communities and Local Government provides annual estimates on loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and heating controls. Using the approach contained within the Energy Performance Certificate, the 2007 report from the survey identified the following number of homes that would benefit (that is their energy efficiency rating would significantly increase) in terms of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and heating controls. The survey is not able to measure the benefiting impact of draught proofing.
	This is an estimate of the number of properties that would benefit from this measure, but that does not imply any requirement for such measures. The survey also does not take into account any practical issues of installing such measures. Many of these homes will be performing to a reasonable standard in terms of their energy efficiency.
	
		
			  EPC recommended energy efficiency measures, 2007 
			   Size of applicable group( 1)  (thousand)  Number of dwellings that would benefit from the measure (thousand)  Percentage 
			 Loft insulation 19,908 8,871 45 
			 Cavity wall 15,527 7,088 46 
			 Heating controls 19,499 7,784 40 
			 (1) The total number of dwellings that have some level of existing loft insulation; have cavity walls, including those already insulated; have heating systems appropriate for heating controls, including those with controls fitted.  Source: English House Condition Survey 2007 Annual Report, Table 2.6, pg 119 CLG. 
		
	
	Figures for 2008 will be published later in the year.

Warm Front Scheme

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households have had works funded by the Warm Front scheme in each month since January 2009.

David Kidney: The following table shows the number of households which have received works funded by Warm Front in each month since January 2009 to January 2010, the latest month for which figures are currently available.
	
		
			   Number of households assisted 
			 January 2009 19,402 
			 February 2009 30,023 
			 March 2009 21,674 
			 April 2009 17,690 
			 May 2009 21,004 
			 June 2009 19,960 
			 July 2009 15,954 
			 August 2009 19,676 
			 September 2009 24,308 
			 October 2009 20,664 
			 November 2009 17,855 
			 December 2009 15,982 
			 January 2010 12,010

Wind Power

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of UK electricity that will come from  (a) onshore and  (b) offshore wind in (i) 2012, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2020.

David Kidney: The Renewable Energy Strategy (July 2009) contains recent analysis of the full technology breakdown to achieve the renewable energy target on a consistent basis across instruments and technologies. It is based on economic modelling of the costs and support for renewable technologies in the electricity, heat and transport sectors. The data below is based on the lead scenario from the Renewable Energy Strategy for large-scale electricity, which reaches 29 per cent. large-scale renewable electricity in 2020, and includes estimates of onshore wind additionally brought on through feed in tariffs. However these numbers are just an illustrative mix on how we could reach 29 per cent. large scale renewable generation. The Government do not set targets for individual energy generation technologies but takes a market-based approach to generation.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Electricity generation from  2012  2015  2020 
			 Onshore wind 4 5 9 
			 Offshore wind 2 5 11 
			  Source: Data are based on analysis by independent consultants Redpoint/Trilemma and Element Energy for the renewable energy strategy.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the gross internal floor area  (a) before and  (b) after rebuilding was of each school that has been rebuilt under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 2 March 2010
	Neither the Department nor Partnerships for Schools routinely collects information about the gross internal floor area of schools before they are rebuilt under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. However we require all secondary schools to be in line with the Department's current area guidelines. For example, Building Bulletin 98 'Briefing Framework for Secondary School Projects', published in 2004 and Building Bulletin 82 'Area Guidelines for Schools', published in 1996. Prior to 1996 schools had to comply with statutory Minimum Teaching Area.
	The following table shows the gross internal floor area for schools completed as part of BSF where data are available. It excludes 'quick win' projects (those in wave 1 of BSF that were accelerated for early completion) and 'one school pathfinders' (single projects for those local authorities in later BSF waves).
	
		
			  Local authority  School  Gross internal floor area m( 2) 
			 Bradford Titus Salt School 16,773 
			 Bradford Tong High School 15,145 
			 Bradford Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College 15,965 
			 Bristol Bristol Brunel Academy 13,056 
			 Bristol The Bridge Learning Campus 14,450 
			 Bristol Brislington Enterprise College 17,640 
			 Bristol Bristol Metropolitan College 11,200 
			 Durham Durham Johnston 13,100 
			 Hackney Stoke Newington School (Phase 1) 13,430 
			 Hackney Clapton Girls Technology College 11,077 
			 Haringey John Loughborough 2,977 
			 Haringey Highgate Wood Secondary School 11,970 
			 Haringey Alexandra Park School 12,256 
			 Haringey Gladesmore Community School 10,034 
			 Haringey Homsey School for Girls 11,739 
			 Haringey Park View Academy 12,462 
			 Haringey Northumberland Park Community School 13,985 
			 Islington Holloway School 8,215 
			 Islington Highbury Grove + New Sixth Form 12,626 
			 Islington Samuel Rhodes SEN School 2,834 
			 Kent Dane Court School 10,148 
			 Kent The Community College Whitstable 10,777 
			 Kent Northfleet School for Girls (phase 1) 9,861 
			 Kent St. George's Church of England Foundation School (phase 1) 8,242 
			 Knowsley All Saints Centre for Learning 10,872 
			 Knowsley St. Edmunds Arrowsmith Centre for Learning 10,315 
			 Knowsley Huyton Arts & Sports Centre for Learning 10,949 
			 Knowsley Knowsley Park Centre for Learning-serving Prescot, Whitson and the wider community 10,844 
			 Knowsley Kirkby Sports College 10,872 
			 Knowsley Halewood Centre for Learning 12,455 
			 Knowsley Christ the King Catholic and Church of England Centre for Learning 9,585 
			 Lambeth Stockwell Park 11,919 
			 Lambeth Elm Court Special School 1,272 
			 Lambeth Park Campus 2,399 
			 Lambeth The Michael Tippett School 3,468 
			 Lambeth Elmgreen School (temporary accommodation) 12,240 
			 Lancashire Sir John Thursby Community College 13,574 
			 Lancashire Burnley Campus (Thomas Whitham Sixth Form) 13,262 
			 Lancashire Pendle Vale Campus 14,122 
			 Lancashire Shuttleworth College 9,888 
			 Leeds Swallow Hill Community College 13,965 
			 Leeds Allerton Grange 13,528 
			 Leeds Cockburn College of Arts 10,336 
			 Leeds Allerton High School 12,114 
			 Leeds Pudsey Grangefield School 10,528 
			 Leeds Rodillian School 12,485 
			 Leeds Temple Moor High School 11,811 
			 Leeds Crawshaw 11,528 
			 Leicester Soar Valley College 13,291 
			 Leicester Judgemeadow Community College 10,750 
			 Leicester Beaumont Leys 10,129 
			 Leicester Fullhurst Community College 9,225 
			 Lewisham Catford 8,873 
			 Lewisham Sedgehill 15,227 
			 Liverpool Lower Lee SEN School 4,631 
			 Manchester Enterprise Academy 8,278 
			 Manchester Health Academy 7,273 
			 Manchester Our Lady's RC Sports College (Higher Blackley Education Village) 7,023 
			 Manchester St. Matthews RC High School 9,541 
			 Manchester Newall Green High School 5,028 
			 Manchester Gorton Education Village 11,931 
			 Manchester St. Paul's 13,112 
			 Manchester Gorton Education Village (Melland High School) 4,110 
			 Manchester Piper Hill 13,112 
			 Manchester Meade Hill (Part of Higher Blackley Education Village) 2,745 
			 Manchester Buglawton Hall 2,850 
			 Newcastle Kenton School 19,382 
			 Newcastle Benfield School (phase 1 of refurb) 11,461 
			 Newcastle Walbottle Campus Technology College 17,106 
			 Newcastle Thomas Bewick (Previous PFI delivered by LEP) 4,106 
			 Newham Brampton Manor School 15,186 
			 Nottingham Big Wood 7,759 
			 Nottingham Hadden Park High School (phase 1) 9,728 
			 Sheffield Yewlands Technology College (two phases) 9,143 
			 Sheffield Talbot Special School 4,199 
			 Sheffield Newfield Secondary School 8,366 
			 Sheffield Silverdale Secondary School 10,913 
			 Solihull Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School 12,086 
			 Solihull Smith's Wood 12,850 
			 Solihull Park Hall School 12,557 
			 Solihull Lanchester School 3,911 
			 South Tyneside Mortimer Community College 11,105 
			 South Tyneside Jarrow School 9,383 
			 Sunderland Red House Academy 5,322 
			 Sunderland Castle View Enterprise Academy 7,880 
			 Sunderland Academy 360 10,104 
			 Sunderland Washington School 8,903 
			 Waltham Forest Walthamstow School for Girls 9,614 
			 Waltham Forest Frederick Bremer 9,519 
			 Waltham Forest Kelmscott School 7,413 
			 Westminster Westminster City Boys 8,344 
			 Westminster St. Marylebone CE 9,198 
			 Westminster Pimlico 12,769 
			  Note: The gross floor areas are estimates based on returns from local authorities

Departmental Taxis

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred on such contracts in each year since his Department was established.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families was created in June 2007. The Department does not currently have any contracts with private hire taxi companies but does have an arrangement with the Government Car Despatch Agency (GCDA). Any other expenditure incurred would be through account arrangements or through spot hire.
	Expenditure incurred for each year with companies through accounts or spot hire since the Department was established is as follows. These figures also include expenditure (GCDA).
	
		
			   £ 
			 June 2007 to March 2008 247,738.00 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 319,447.03 
			 April 2009 to December 2009 237,359.30 
			 Total 804,544.33

Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Stroud constituency, the effects on that constituency of the policies and actions of his Department and its predecessors since 2000.

Vernon Coaker: Since 2000 the Government have transformed education and child care with improved outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing the performance at Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents in Stroud are given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools( 1 ) in the Stroud constituency 
			  Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above  2000  2009( 2)  Percentage point improvement 2000-09 
			  Stroud
			 English 79 86 7 
			 Maths 77 84 7 
			 Science 89 92 3 
			 
			  England
			 English 75 80 5 
			 Maths 72 79 7 
			 Science 85 88 3 
			 (1) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including academies and city technology colleges).  (2) Revised data.  Source: School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables. 
		
	
	
		
			  GCSE and equivalents( 1)  results for pupils( 2)  attending schools( 3)  in the Stroud constituency: 
			  Percentage of pupils gaining  2000  2009( 4)  Percentage point improvement 2000-09 
			  Stroud
			 5+ A*-C 61.3 70.2 8.9 
			 5+ A*-G 95.1 94.0 -1.1 
			 
			  England
			 5+ A*-C(5) 49.2 70.0 20.8 
			 5+ A*-G(5) 88.9 92.3 3.4 
			 (1) From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.  (2) From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 results are based on pupils aged 15.  (3) Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including academies and city technology colleges) and from 2000 does not include pupils recently arrived from overseas.  (4) Revised data.  (5) England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools and PRUs.   Source:  School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables. 
		
	
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's "In Your Area" website available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea
	Information available at constituency level includes the number of specialist schools, number of operational academies, number of teaching assistants and other support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher ratios. Where information is not available at constituency level it has been provided at local authority level.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Support for All: The Families and Relationships

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been allocated to fund specialist relationship counselling services for families with disabled children as referred to in the Green Paper, Support for All: the Families and Relationships in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The funding for the proposals outlined in "Support for All: the Families and Relationships" Green Paper has been allocated from current budgets. We have provided over £3.5 million of strategic funding to a range of third sector organisations, such as Relate, Marriage Care and the Asian Family Counselling Service, who provide relationship counselling for families, including those with disabled children. Over the past year, we have also provided funding of £3.1 million to support families through the recession, including £1 million to Relate for more face-to-face and telephone counselling to families, again including those with disabled children.
	In addition, around £400,000 for 2010-11 has been re-prioritised from the current Aiming High for Disabled Children budget to provide specialist relationship counselling services for families with disabled children and to enhance helpline support for these families through third sector organisations.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Food

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the duration is of his Department's contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions for armed forces food supply; and when that contract will be reviewed for the purpose of inviting competitive bids.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions (PFS) commenced in October 2006; it is a five-year contract with two two-year extension options. The MOD has taken up the first of these options and the contract is currently due to expire in October 2013. The MOD is considering the merits of extending the current contract with PFS against the benefits of competition.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers have been treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The following table presents the number of personnel from all three services treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court from September 2008, by patient status (in-patient/out-patient/residential patient). Patients are treated for injuries and illnesses requiring rehabilitation that have arisen as a result of both operational and non-operational circumstances.
	
		
			   2008 (September-December)  2009 
			 In-patients 98 304 
			 Out-patients 882 2,414 
			 Residential patients 335 806 
			 All 1,136 2,607 
			  Notes: 1. An in-patient is a patient that has been admitted and allocated a ward bed. A residential patient is a patient that is on a three week rehabilitation course; they are not allocated a ward bed, but reside in dormitory style accommodation. An outpatient is a non-resident patient attending DMRC for treatment. 2. Patients include naval service personnel, Army personnel (including those from the Gibraltar Regiment), RAF personnel, and reservists. The totals shown exclude special forces and other nations service personnel. 3. The Defence Patient Tracking System (DPTS) is a live system that is constantly being updated. Therefore data are provisional and subject to change. 
		
	
	Information on the total number of patients treated at DMRC has only been captured by the DPTS since 1 September 2008. Prior to this date only patients treated at DMRC following aero-medical evacuation to the UK were captured on the DPTS. Figures between October 2007 and August 2008 are included in monthly statistics published by MOD's Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) organisation on armed forces personnel returned to the UK from Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of an injury or illness who have been treated at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) Birmingham and at Headley Court. Monthly reports for the whole of 2007, 2008 and 2009 are available both in the Library of the House and on the DASA website at the following link:
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	Equivalent verified data prior to this date are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers have been treated in Selly Oak Hospital in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence's Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) organisation publishes information on Armed Forces personnel returned to the UK from Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of an injury or illness, who have been treated at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) Birmingham. Monthly reports covering the period October 2007 to January 2010 are available both in the Library of the House and on the DASA website at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	Equivalent verified data prior to this date are not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The following table offers a summary of the DASA data, showing Armed Forces personnel treated at RCDM Birmingham and the cause of their injury/illness.
	
		
			   Battle injury  Non-battle injury  Natural causes  All 
			 2007(1) 54 65 31 150 
			 2008 218 270 224 712 
			 2009 411 285 211 907 
			 Total 683 620 466 1,769 
			 (1 )October to December.   Notes:  1. A battle injury includes those wounded as a result of hostile action. This includes injuries sustained while avoiding direct and indirect fire. A non-battle injury is any injury that is not caused by a hostile act and includes any accidental injuries such as sports injuries, road traffic accidents etc.  2. Patient totals include Naval Service personnel, Army personnel (including those from the Gibraltar Regiment), RAF personnel, and reservists. These totals exclude Special Forces, other nations' Service personnel, and patients returned from theatres other than Iraq and Afghanistan. Numbers include both in- and out-patients.  3. Some data are provisional and subject to change.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's long-distance fixed-wing search and rescue capability following the withdrawal from service of the Nimrod MR2.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2010,  Official Report, column 47W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) and the answer I gave him on 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 678W.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational radius is for Sea King helicopters based at RAF Lossiemouth for the search and rescue task.

Bill Rammell: The maximum operational radius for the RAF Sea King Mk 3/3a is 240 nautical miles. The Sea King undertakes short range Search and Rescue tasks.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what multi-agency radio communication equipment is available for RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft for communication with fishing and merchant vessels during long-range search and rescue missions;
	(2)  what onboard communications capability the C-130 Hercules has to co-ordinate search and rescue agencies involved in major off-shore incidents.

Bill Rammell: The Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC), based at RAF Kinloss, is responsible for co-ordinating major off-shore incidents and multi-agency rescues. An on the scene co-ordinator may be designated, if required, by the ARCC. If appropriate, this could be an RAF aircraft.
	RAF Hercules C130K and C130J have HF, UHF and VHF radios using aeronautical and marine frequency bands as standard equipment. This would enable them to communicate with and co-ordinate civil and military aircraft, ships and ground stations including the ARCC and HM Coastguard.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a UK-based Hercules C-130 has been called out on a search and rescue mission in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: In the last five years a Hercules C130 aircraft has been utilised on a Search and Rescue task only once, to provide on-scene co-ordination for the rescue of a civilian casualty from a ship at sea.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on  (a) how many occasions and  (b) for what duration search and rescue assets at RAF Gannett have been unavailable during the last 12 months; and on what proportion of such occasions those assets were unavailable because of (i) aircrew shortages and (ii) technical problems.

Bill Rammell: During the period 1 March 2009 to 28 February 2010, the Search and Rescue aircraft at HMS Gannet were available for 97 per cent. of the time. There were 46 occasions when an aircraft was not available at the required notice of 15 minutes by day, 45 minutes by night. These occasions were all due to technical problems. The average down-time was three and a half hours, although there were four occasions when an aircraft was not available for a period of over 24 hours. These four occurred during a period when Gannet had loaned one of its complement of three aircraft to its sister SAR unit, 771 Naval Air Station based at RNAS Culdrose.
	On an occasion when no aircraft was available, any calls for assistance received by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss would have been channelled to RAF Stations at Lossiemouth or Boulmer or to the Maritime Coastguard Agency at Stornoway.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence  (a) how many S-92 helicopters his Department plans to procure for the UK-based search and rescue helicopter task and  (b) where those helicopters will be based.

Quentin Davies: The future joint Ministry of Defence/Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MOD/MCA) Search and Rescue Helicopter service will be provided by the contractor Soteria under a service contract - MOD/MCA will not be procuring any helicopters. It will be the contractor's responsibility to ensure, throughout
	the life of the contract, that they have sufficient helicopters to meet the requirement to be able to field one helicopter to incidents from each base during its operating hours. The helicopters will be based at RAF Boulmer, RMB Chivenor, RNAS Culdrose, Glasgow Airport, Leconfield, Lee On Solent, RAF Lossiemouth, Portland, Stornoway, Sumburgh, RAF Valley and Wattisham Airfield.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicle urgent operational requirements of each type have been  (a) ordered and  (b) delivered to Headquarters Land Forces since 2006.

Quentin Davies: The breakdown of UOR vehicles by each type ordered and delivered since 2006 is as follows:
	
		
			  Vehicle  Total  q ty o rdered  Number of UOR procurements  Date of first order  Achieved/f orecast date of last delivery to MOD/user  Qty issued to Purple Gate  Qty delivered to land forces 
			 Mastiff (1 and 2) 299 5 1 January 2007 2 August 2008 Spring 2011 275 207 
			 Wolfhound 101 2 April 2009 Winter 2010/spring 2011 32 8 
			 Ridgback 177 2 October 2008 Summer 2011 156 125 
			 Jackal (1 and 2) 445 6 July 2007 Winter 2010 332 260 
			 Coyote 76 1 April 2009 Spring 2010 52 36 
			 Husky 333 2 February 2009 Spring 2010 218 86 
			 Snatch Vixen (Plus) 100 1 March 2009 Summer 2010 87 49 
			 Snatch Vixen 32 1 August 2008 Autumn 2008 31 0 
			 Vector 198 5 June 2006 Spring 2011 178 127 
			 Talisman Systems 6 1 July 2008 Spring 2010 0 0 
			 Cougar 30 1 November 2008 Summer 2009 30 30 
			 Warthog 115 2 December 2008 Autumn 2010 4 0 
			 Springer 78 1 December 2008 Summer 2009 78 75 
			 Total 1984 + 6 Talisman systems 30 - - 1,473 1,003 
		
	
	The quantities delivered to land forces are for whole vehicle UOR platforms and do not include details of those vehicles delivered to MOD, awaiting receipt and inspection by land. It should be noted that while land forces is the major recipient of many of these UOR procurements, vehicles are also delivered to other defence users. Also excluded are non UOR vehicles which have had UORs added to them. In addition, I am withholding details of covert vehicles, civilian armoured vehicles, EOD vehicles and special forces procurements as this could compromise operational security.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he expects the delivery of the order for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle to be completed;
	(2)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 15 December 2009,  Official Report, column 802, on Future Defence Programme, whether the £280 million funding for the new vehicles includes funding for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle;
	(3)  when he expects the assessment phase of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle programme to be completed;
	(4)  what the cost of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle order is to  (a) his Department's core budget and  (b) the contingency reserve;
	(5)  whether a target  (a) main gate and  (b) in-service date has been set for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle;
	(6)  how many tranches will form the full order of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle; and what the total number of vehicles will be.

Quentin Davies: Two contenders, which could fill the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) requirement, are currently being assessed as part of a Concept Vehicle Evaluation. It is expected that this assessment phase will be complete in early April 2010. It is currently assessed that 200 LPPV will meet the need in Afghanistan. These 200 vehicles will form the first batch ordered under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) as soon as the design was ready, in order to get them into theatre as quickly as possible.
	Until the full military requirement has been refined we judge that it makes sense to order an initial batch of 200 vehicles with a view to further buys in future. Buying vehicles in tranches allows us to learn lessons, to modify the vehicle if necessary and helps speed up the delivery of future orders.
	Due to commercial sensitivities, and while the full requirement is being refined, I am unable to comment on the likely cost of the full LPPV order, or the funding arrangements. I can, however, confirm that the initial batch of 200 vehicles will be funded from the Treasury reserve as a UOR. This will be over and above the £280 million for additional equipment announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 December 2009. A business case will be submitted for the initial 200 vehicles in the coming weeks, once the assessment is complete. As the contract for the LPPV requirement has yet to be let, delivery details cannot be confirmed at this stage as they are still subject to commercial negotiations, but we intend that they should be delivered in 2011.

Departmental ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information technology projects initiated by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were cancelled prior to completion in the last 12 months; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse.

Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence and its Agencies (excluding trading funds) did not cancel any of its information technology projects, prior to completion, during Financial Year 2008-09. This excludes low value projects funded locally by individual units across the Department. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Interpreters

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Pashto and  (b) Dari interpreters are employed by his Department.

Bill Rammell: No professional Pashto or Dari interpreters are currently employed by the Department. However, military personnel who have been trained to higher levels of proficiency in Pashto and Dari are available. Although not at the level of a professional interpreter, they are able to provide trusted translation and some consecutive interpreting capability.
	When professional interpreting services are required, external provision is sought by the customer area from commercial agencies.

Joint Strike Fighter

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future procurement of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Quentin Davies: The Government remain committed to the Joint Strike Fighter as stated by the then Secretary of State on 18 March 2009, Offi cial Report, column 54WS, on the approval to purchase three Joint Strike Fighters to allow the UK to participate in Operational Test & Evaluation in the US. The Joint Strike Fighter remains the optimum solution to the UK's Joint Combat Aircraft requirement as part of our Carrier Strike programme. We have not made further investment decisions at this stage and cannot, therefore, announce overall numbers, variants or the in-service date.

Land Mines: Detectors

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the provision of pre-deployment mine detection training.

Bill Rammell: Personnel are trained in Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Tactics, Techniques and Procedures and how to use the Vallon Hand Held Metal Detector during pre-deployment training, if their operational role in theatre requires it. Additional training is provided on arrival in theatre to ensure that personnel are given the latest tactics, techniques and procedures. All pre-deployment training is reviewed constantly in the light of operational experience.

Military Aircraft: Deployment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum flight endurance time without mid air refuelling is for a  (a) Typhoon eurofighter,  (b) Harrier GR9,  (c) Tornado GR4 and  (d) Super Tucano; and what the average fuel consumption level is for each aircraft.

Bill Rammell: Flight endurance and fuel consumption depend on a number of factors including payload, operating altitude, weather conditions (including ambient temperature) and speed. To achieve maximum endurance, the aircraft types requested would have to be flown with no operational weapons and would be fitted with the maximum number of additional external fuel tanks instead. Combat aircraft do not fly in this configuration when conducting operations, as this would negate their combat capability.
	For academic purposes given the same atmospheric conditions, a single-engine turboprop aircraft such as the Super Tucano flying in this configuration would have greater endurance and lower fuel consumption rate than fast jet types but would have less endurance than turboprop unmanned aerial vehicles like Reaper.
	Fast jet aircraft have significant advantages in terms of faster transit times, higher operating altitudes and greater weapons, avionics and defensive aids payloads. This provides greater operational flexibility and agility. Furthermore, unrefuelled flight endurance is a relatively minor factor for fast jets, as the Tornado, Harrier and Typhoon would benefit from air-to-air refuelling.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual number of pilots was for (i) Apache, (ii) Chinook and (iii) Merlin helicopters on the latest date for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Required strength  Actual strength 
			 Apache 100 88 
			 Chinook 124 118 
			 Merlin Mk 1 60 50 
			 Merlin Mk 3 80 71 
		
	
	All our operational commitments for these helicopters are being met.
	Required and actual strengths will both naturally vary with time due to many factors including: operational requirements, the introduction of newly trained crew on completion of training courses at set times during the year, the number of trained personnel assigned to non-flying duties (as part of the necessary broader career development), injuries, and service leavers.
	In addition, the RAF is going through a high level of change with aircraft drawing down, going through structure change, forming new squadrons or bringing new aircraft into service. Therefore, crew figures are fluctuating continually.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with its  (a) New Zealand and  (b) Australian counterparts on joint co-operation in the procurement of (i) the Future Surface Combatant C1 vessels and (ii) the Future Mine Countermeasures, Hydrographic and Patrol Vessels.

Quentin Davies: Ministry of Defence officials have held a number of discussions with their Australian and New Zealand counterparts on a range of maritime issues, including potential ways of working together on areas of common interest in the new generations of Combat warships and Mine Countermeasures, Hydrographic and Patrol vessels. These discussions are at an early stage and it is too soon to say what the outcome will be.

HEALTH

Baby Care Units: Nurses

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to increase the number of neonatal nurses.

Ann Keen: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local authorities, strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, and to commission services accordingly.

Dental Services: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of the  (a) child and  (b) adult population resident in (i) Essex and (ii) Castle Point constituency attended an appointment with an NHS dentist in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of adults and children registered with a national health service dentist in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex A of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006". Information is provided by primary care trust (PCT) and by strategic health authority (SHA). Annex B contains this information expressed as a percentage of the population. Annex C provides the number of adults and children registered with an NHS dentist for the same time periods by parliamentary constituency.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity
	Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24 month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Information on the number of adult and child patients seen in the previous 24 months, in England, is available in Table Dl of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics, Quarter 2: 30 September 2009" report. Information is available at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 31 December 2009 and is provided by PCT and SHA, but is not available by parliamentary constituency. Table D2 provides this information expressed as a percentage of the population.
	This report, published on 23 February 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0910q2

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally. The national reconfiguration of primary care trusts (PCTs) in October 2006 saw Castle Point and Rochford PCT merge with Southend PCT to become South East Essex PCT, which involved staff relocation. This was managed by local national health service organisations.

Departmental Marketing

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much his Department and agencies have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the  (a) Real Help Now and  (b) Building Britain's Future themed campaign to date.

Phil Hope: Although the Department has used branding from Building Britain's Future on policy documents it is not aware of any expenditure on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity directly related to the Real Help Now and Building Britain's Future campaigns.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: In the last 12 months from March 2009 to February 2010 the Department and its agencies spent the following amounts on first class travel.
	
		
			   Total (£) 
			  Department of Health  
			 Ministers 7,908 
			 All other grades 2,316,371 
			   
			  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency  
			 All grades 7,573 
			   
			  NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency  
			 Director/SCSI 6,106.39 
			 Grade 6 3,378.10 
			 Grade 7 2,496.54 
			 SEO 4,121.88 
			 HEO 401.22 
		
	
	No staffing grade breakdown is available for other users.

Health Services: Rural Areas

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of services provided by his Department which are targeted at people living in rural areas;
	(2)  what account his Department takes of the needs of disadvantaged people in rural areas in determining the targeting of strategies to deliver its services.

Mike O'Brien: Primary care trusts are responsible for assessing the needs of their populations and commissioning services to meet those needs. This includes ensuring that services meet the needs of all groups within their population, such as those living in rural areas.

Health Visitors: South East

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors have been employed in each primary care trust in the South East in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified health visiting staff in England by South East Coast and South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) areas and by organisation as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  200 8 
			  South East Coast and South Central SHA  941 2,006 2,016 2,006 1,911 1,646 1,552 1,473 
			   
			  South East Coast SHA  201 942 903 971 891 712 696 689 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT) 5P7 0 91 84 75 81 42 72 70 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 5QA 0 161 150 170 146 151 146 148 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 5P8 49 48 47 43 46 40 40 40 
			 Medway PCT 5L3 0 71 71 89 85 69 65 58 
			 Surrey PCT 5P5 0 260 236 240 242 200 179 163 
			 West Kent PCT 5P9 111 143 158 154 135 43 49 91 
			 West Sussex Teaching PCT 5P6 41 168 157 200 156 167 145 119 
			   
			  South Central SHA  740 1,064 1,113 1,035 1,020 934 856 784 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 5QG 29 104 100 100 101 96 94 78 
			 Berkshire West PCT 5QF 115 116 117 113 114 111 109 87 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 5QD 165 178 181 182 176 133 106 103 
			 Hampshire PCT 5QC 148 275 321 275 262 234 217 192 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT1 5QT 30 29 28 2 19 16 16 19 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 5CQ 49 71 67 54 63 66 64 58 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 5QE 86 172 189 183 164 158 149 157 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 5FE 43 53 49 51 53 52 53 48 
			 Southampton City PCT 5L1 75 66 61 75 68 68 48 42 
			  Notes: 1. 2001-08 figures are mapped to their current organisational structure. 2. 2000 and previous data do not provide comparative figures to the current organisational structures, and as such are not included in this table.  3. It appears that data provided in 2004 were incorrectly coded for this organisation and corrected in subsequent years.  4. Brighton and Hove PCT do not have any health visitors coded on their Non-Medical Census returns for the years provided. 5. Date Quality The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

HIV Infection and Hepatitis

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on policy on  (a) HIV,  (b) hepatitis B and  (c) hepatitis C.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Infectious disease  Whole - time equivalent (WTE) 
			 HIV 2.4 
			 Hepatitis B 0.65 
			 Hepatitis C 1.55 
		
	
	In addition, the Offender Health team provides 0.2 WTE for work on HIV and other blood borne viruses in the prison setting.

HIV Infection and Hepatitis

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what epidemiology and surveillance studies commissioned by his Department are being undertaken into  (a) HIV,  (b) hepatitis B and  (c) hepatitis C;
	(2)  spent on surveillance and epidemiology of  (a) HIV,  (b) hepatitis B and  (c) hepatitis C in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Gillian Merron: Information on epidemiology and surveillance studies commissioned by the Department is shown by financial year in the following table.
	
		
			  Department of Health - epidemiology and surveillance studies 2007-08 to 2009-10 
			  (£) 
			  Studies  Organisation  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Estimation of hepatitis C related morbidity Health Protection Agency 62,697 5,211 73,423 
			 Prevalence of hepatitis C in antenatal clinic attenders Health Protection Agency 25,852 - - 
			 Prevalence of hepatitis C in genito urinary medicine clinic attenders in England Health Protection Agency 25,684 - - 
			 Case finding and prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in South Asians living in the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency 37,349 - - 
			 Surveillance of hepatitis C testing Health Protection Agency 125,217 65,267 65,267 
			 Monitoring hepatitis C related care in the NHS: a one year pilot study Health Protection Agency  17,205 65,267 
			 Monitoring and modelling prognosis in the era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy University of Bristol 42,016   
			 Sexual attitudes and lifestyles of London's Eastern Europeans University College London 72,230 145,957 73,726 
			 Experiences of female migrant sex workers from Eastern Europe and effect of multiple vulnerabilities on risk of Sexual Transmitted Infections/HIV London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 50,776 119,703 34,463 
			 British Paediatric Surveillance Unit - surveillance of HIV Health Protection Agency 3,600 3,600 3,600

Influenza: Health Services

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that the findings from his assessment of the swine influenza pandemic campaign will inform planning for the NHS response to seasonal influenza.

Gillian Merron: We have already learned many lessons from the swine flu pandemic, which we are currently consolidating. The national response to the swine flu pandemic will be subject to rigorous scrutiny to assess its appropriateness, effectiveness and value for money, alongside local and regional reviews of the national health service response. The timetable for this work has not yet been finalised. The Department always evaluates its public communications campaigns and uses the results to inform planning for future activity. This information is also shared with those involved in communications in the NHS.
	The Department is currently planning for the 2010-11 seasonal influenza vaccination programme. These and future plans will be informed by the experience from previous seasonal flu vaccination programmes, as well as the experience from the swine flu vaccination programme.

Mentally Ill: Community Care

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients subject to community treatment orders were referred to a doctor for a second opinion within 28 days of being released from hospital in each quarter since November 2008; how many doctors were available to provide second opinions for community treatment orders; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is responsible for the appointment of second opinion appointed doctors (SOADs) in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983.
	The first table shows, by quarter, the number of requests received by CQC for SOAD opinions in respect of patients on community treatment orders (CTOs) between 3 November 2008 and 8 March 2010 and the proportion of such requests which were received within 28 days of start of the CTO. The table shows that, overall, 60 per cent. of requests were received within the 28 day period. To improve this position and to help ensure that all requests are received and allocated within the first 28 days, CQC has written to mental health providers to ask that requests be submitted within 48 hours of the start of a CTO.
	The second table gives information on the number of doctors on CQC's panel of doctors who are available to be appointed to give SOAD opinions in individual cases (the SOADs panel).
	
		
			  Table: Requests for SOAD opinions for CTO patients by quarter, showing number and proportion received within first 28 days of the CTO 
			  Quarter  Total requests received  Number of requests received with first 28 days  Proportion of total)(%) 
			 Q3 2008-2009(1)( )(3 November 2008 to 31 December 08) 419 313 75 
			 Q4 2008-09 (1 January 2009 to 31 March 2009) 1,234 744 60 
			 Q1 2009-10 (1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009) 1,199 694 58 
			 Q2 2009-10 (1 July 2009 to 30 September 2009) 1,048 589 56 
			 Q3 2009-10 (1 October 2009 to 31 December 2009) 1,049 642 61 
			 Q4 2009-10(2) (1 January 2010 to 8 March 2010) 793 441 56 
			 Total 5,742 3,423 60 
			 (1) Information for the third quarter of 2008-2009 covers only the period from 3 November, when CTOs were first introduced, to 31 December. (2) Information for the current quarter is complete to 8 March 2010. S ource:  Care Quality Commission. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table: Number of doctors on CQC SOADs panel, by date. 
			   Number of SOADs 
			 1 November 2008 101 
			 1 January 2009 110 
			 1 April 2009 98 
			 1 July 2009 97 
			 1 October 2009 107 
			 1 January 2010 111 
			 8 March 2010 115 
			  Note:  Doctors on the panel may not have been available to give SOAD opinions at all times during each period.  Source:  Care Quality Commission.

Methadone: Young Offenders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 589W, on methadone: young offenders, if he will take steps to record information on the treatment of young offenders with methadone and subutex; and whether his Department has undertaken an evaluation of  (a) the value for money and  (b) effectiveness of the use of (i) methadone and (ii) subutex for the treatment of drug misuse amongst young offenders in custodial settings.

Phil Hope: As stated in the answer of 6 July 2009, information on the treatment of young offenders with methadone and subutex is not currently available.
	A joint Home Office, National Treatment Agency and Department of Health project has redesigned the Drug Information Record (DIR) and Prison Activity Form which came into use on the 1 April 2009. There are some changes to the DIR but most of the changes are to the Activity Form. The new Activity Form will be used for all new significant events (treatment starts and types of treatment, such as detoxification and maintenance prescription) for new clients and existing caseload clients.
	The DIR form is used for data collection for all adults including those aged 18 to 20. As data quality improves, we hope to have accurate baseline data next year for this age group for 2010-11.
	Clinical interventions (including methadone and subutex) for drug treatment, whether for detoxification or maintenance purposes, are delivered as part of the Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) and in line with the latest clinical guidelines.
	Two providers are evaluating the impact of the implementation of the IDTS in prison and its effect on offenders, some of whom will be aged 18 to 20 years. Reports from the evaluation will be available in 2012.
	Alongside the IDTS evaluation, Professor Lord Kamlesh Patel is chairing the Prison Drug Treatment Strategy Review Group. The group is specifically considering:
	the key outcomes needed to reduce substance misuse, both in prison and on release into the community;
	a set of national minimum standards for drug treatment in prison;
	opportunities for achieving efficiency savings to invest in prison and community drug treatment services;
	examining the case for prioritising the treatment needs for some drug dependent groups, both in prison and on release;
	the commissioning models and funding streams at national, regional and local level in order to target services more effectively; and
	systems for improved information sharing to support better quality performance management and case management.
	This is a two-year work programme running from April 2009 to March 2011.

NHS: ICT

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of user minutes on the Lorenzo software system at each of the NHS sites at which it is installed in the most recent month for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: The information necessary to derive such an estimate is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Respite Care: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the amount of funding received by Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust as a result of the additional funding for respite care announced on 10 March 2008 in each month to date; and under what budgetary heading such funding has been spent.

Phil Hope: The data are not held centrally.
	£150 million is being given to primary care trusts (PCTs) within their baseline allocations to provide breaks for carers. The Department does not break down PCT revenue allocations by policies at either a national or a local level and there is no weighted capitation formula specific to carers that would allow needs to be accurately identified at the local level. It is therefore for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account their local circumstances and priorities set out in the NHS Operating Framework.

JUSTICE

Blackmail

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of the offence of blackmail since 1990 were sentenced to a period of imprisonment of seven years or more.

Claire Ward: The available information is provided in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Custodial sentences of at least seven years for blackmail( 1) , 1993-2008 
			   Total 
			 1990 1 
			 1991 5 
			 1992 6 
			 1993 4 
			 1994 4 
			 1995 7 
			 1996 10 
			 1997 8 
			 1998 2 
			 1999 10 
			 2000 5 
			 2001 12 
			 2002 5 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 2 
			 2006 18 
			 2007 1 
			 2008 4 
			 (1) S.21 Theft Act 1968.   Notes:  1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  2. The data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. The data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.

Information Commissioner's Office: Complaint

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints made to the Information Commissioner's Office had not been investigated within eight months of the complaint having been made in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and what steps are being taken to reduce this number.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent authority established to promote access to official information and to regulate the protection of personal data.
	Complaints received by the ICO are recorded and logged in a casework management system. The complaints are then allocated to a caseworker for investigation. Of a total of 22,237 complaints received in the financial year 2008-09, the ICO took more than eight months to allocate 1,552 cases for investigation. The ICO allocated a total of 20,681 complaints for investigation within eight months of receipt in 2008-09, with four cases still awaiting allocation.
	A complete picture for the current financial year is not yet available. However, in quarters one to three of 2009-10 the ICO received 18,463 complaints. To date, 318 of these complaints were more than eight months old when allocated for investigation. In the first three quarters of 2009-10, 16,561 complaints were allocated within eight months of receipt, notwithstanding a 21 per cent. increase in freedom of information complaints and a 42 per cent. increase in the number of data protection complaints in comparison to the same period in the previous financial year. The remaining 1584 requests had yet to be allocated for investigation at the end of the third quarter. This information has been provided by the ICO.
	The Information Commissioner is committed to speeding up the complaint handling process in his Office. The ICO is changing its internal systems and processes to focus on closing less complex cases more quickly. Additional grant in aid over and above its baseline funding has also been made available by the Ministry of Justice to help the ICO reduce its backlog of freedom of information cases in this financial year and the previous four.

Legal Aid

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether an assessment has been made of the appropriateness of funding by legal aid of concluded MMR vaccine litigation;
	(2)  whether an assessment has been made of the appropriateness of funding by legal aid the research carried out on claimants and controls in connection with concluded MMR vaccine litigation;
	(3)  whether an assessment has been made of purported ethical approval and clinical indication for lumbar punctures funded by legal aid performed on claimants in connection with concluded MMR vaccine litigation;
	(4)  whether there are plans to recover legal aid money paid to Dr. Andrew Wakefield in connection with concluded MMR vaccine litigation.

Maria Eagle: The MMR vaccine litigation involved allegations that, as a consequence of a national vaccination campaign, children were very seriously injured because the vaccine in question was defective. Legal aid funding, which covered litigation services, advocacy and disbursements for experts, was granted in the early stages of the case, and was supported by the opinions of leading counsel, which took into account the expert evidence available at the time.
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is obliged to review continually the merits of funded litigation, and to withdraw funding where a case no longer meets the legal merits test. Funding for MMR claims was therefore discontinued when they no longer met this test. Since the MMR vaccine cases concluded, the civil legal aid Funding Code guidance has been revised, and there are now more stringent criteria for funding high-cost cases, and a presumption that legal aid will not be used to fund new scientific research.
	We are not aware of any assessment of the ethical approval of procedures carried out as part of the expert evidence provided for this case. This would be a matter for the General Medical Council, not the Ministry of Justice or the LSC. The LSC has no plans to recover legal aid fees paid to Dr. Andrew Wakefield in connection with expert advice in the concluded MMR litigation.

National Offender Management Services: Licences

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of the licences purchased by the National Offender Management Service from  (a) MPLC and  (b) Filmbank.

Jack Straw: The showing of films by video/DVD to groups of prisoners or staff requires a licence as it constitutes public performance.
	There are two licences as no one licensing body covers all the main studios.
	The cost of licences in the 2008-09 financial year for the Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC) and Filmbank was £315,883 and £39,774 respectively. This equates to £3.60 per prisoner per year (or lp a day).
	Films have been shown to prisoners for many decades.

Property: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2010,  Official Report, column 940W, on property: sales, how many property transactions took place where the sale price was more than  (a) £60,000,  (b) £125,000,  (c) £175,000 and  (d) £250,000 in each (i) local authority area and (ii) region since 1997.

Michael Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information based on the total number of residential properties sold at full value(1) in the requested categories in each year since 1997. The information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	(1) Full value = residential property transactions where the full price has been paid. The figures exclude a number of transactions including right to buy sales at a discount, properties sold by way of a gift and properties sold under a compulsory purchase or court order.

Youth Custody

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of sentences handed down to  (a) juveniles and  (b) young adults of each sex from (i) magistrates' courts and (ii) Crown courts were custodial sentences in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009.

Claire Ward: The requested information for 2008 is shown in the following table, data for 2007 have also been supplied. Data for 2009 will become available once Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published in the autumn.
	This information is also available in Sentencing Statistics 2008 via the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	
		
			  Number and percentage of persons sentenced to immediate custody, by court type, age band and sex, 2007-08 
			Magistrates court  Crown c ourt 
			Immediate custody  Total sentenced  Proportion (percentage)  Immediate custody  Total sentenced  Proportion (percentage) 
			 2008  Male   
			  10 to 17 3,421 71,438 4.8 1,609 2,583 62.3 
			  18 to 20 5,436 101,358 5.4 7,186 13,222 54.3 
			 
			   Female   
			  10 to 17 368 13,479 2.7 78 215 36.3 
			  18 to 20 434 20,010 2.2 355 1,120 31.7 
			 
			 2007  Male   
			  10 to 17 3,864 80,153 4.8 1,497 2,466 60.7 
			  18 to 20 6,320 107,921 5.9 7,167 12,849 55.8 
			 
			   Female   
			  10 to 17 340 14,494 2.3 129 274 47.1 
			  18 to 20 472 18,507 2.6 332 999 33.2 
			  Notes:  1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.

Youth Custody

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has received a copy of the National Audit Office's draft report on custody placements in young offenders institutions; if he will bring forward proposals to improve his Department's system for reporting costs of custody in the youth secure estate; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice is not aware of any such report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The work of the NAO is a matter for the NAO's Comptroller and Auditor General. The Department welcomes any recommendations the NAO have to secure greater value for money and would carefully consider its response thereafter. Details on the costs of custody are published in the Youth Justice Board's annual report and accounts.